House debates Personal Explanations

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 House of Representatives

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

3:42 pm

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

I do.

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

In question time today a clearly rattled and poll-panicked Prime Minister made misleading claims about my record as health minister. To correct the misrepresentation, I point out that in every year of my tenure hospital funding increased, from $7.49 billion in 2003-04 to $9.76 billion in 2007-08. It is absolutely obvious, and members opposite should stop telling grotesque untruths about the excellent record of the former government and the fine record, if I say so myself, of the former minister.

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

The leader has made his point.

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

I seek leave to table a document.

Leave not granted.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing

3:43 pm

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing

Yes.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing

During question time again today the Minister for Health and Ageing suggested that the opposition leader and I were anti nurse. That is a ridiculous suggestion, and it reflects very poorly on the minister for health.