House debates

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Ministerial Arrangements

2:00 pm

Photo of Kevin RuddKevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I inform the House, I am sure to the regret of the opposition, that the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government will be absent from question time today and for the remainder of this week as he is attending an international transport forum in Leipzig, Germany.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting

Photo of Kevin RuddKevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I know you love Albo deeply over there. He will be back. On his behalf, the Minister for Finance and Deregulation will answer questions relating to infrastructure and transport and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will answer questions relating to regional development and local government.

Photo of Wilson TuckeyWilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer to my rebuttal yesterday, through personal explanation, of allegations and innuendo levelled at me by the Prime Minister, with some assistance from the Minister for Trade, at question time, as recorded on page 4 of the proof Hansard. Mr Speaker, my right to correct the record has, in no way, relieved me of the emotional stress and suffering I have experienced from these untrue allegations against my integrity. I therefore request the Prime Minister to follow his past practice and say sorry or, if formality is to prevail, to withdraw.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order.