House debates

Thursday, 28 October 2010

Personal Explanations

3:35 pm

Photo of Jamie BriggsJamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Jamie BriggsJamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | | Hansard source

Outrageously, Mr Speaker.

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

Please proceed.

Photo of Jamie BriggsJamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | | Hansard source

Yesterday in this House and on ABC Online the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship directly implied that I had not sought a briefing from him on the ambush decision to establish a detention facility at Inverbrackie in the Adelaide Hills. I seek leave to table the two occasions on which the shadow minister and I have sought briefings in the last two weeks. We are yet to get an answer.

Leave not granted.

3:36 pm

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the Minister claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

I do. The member for Mayo has alleged that I implied, or said, that he had not sought a briefing. I have made no such statement. In fact, I have agreed to a briefing and it is being arranged.

Photo of John AlexanderJohn Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of John AlexanderJohn Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes. I have been misrepresented by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. I think that the link from Epping to Parramatta will be beneficial to the people of Bennelong; I welcome that. I have made the point, however, that the New South Wales government—

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the member for Bennelong has just indicated that in fact he was not misrepresented. He cannot debate the issue.

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

I will listen carefully to the member for Bennelong. He cannot debate the issue.

Photo of John AlexanderJohn Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I have made the point that the link from Epping to Parramatta was not in the New South Wales state government’s 10-year plan.

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

Order! I think the member for Bennelong has explained where he was misrepresented and he did make that point in his first speech.

3:38 pm

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

It is hard to believe, but I do. First, the Prime Minister today claimed that I have a four-point plan. In fact we do not; we have a nine-point plan. Second, the Prime Minister claimed the first point of the plan is that the coalition wants to reregulate interest rates. In fact, that is totally false and inaccurate. Third, the Prime Minister claimed that we want to roll back $16 billion of funding support for the residential mortgage backed security market. In fact, we were the ones that called for that support in the first place and that claim by the Prime Minister is totally false. Fourth, the Prime Minister claimed that we are opposed to greater banking competition. That claim is absolutely false. We want more banking competition. I am afraid the Prime Minister did not have a fifth point, but whatever it is I am sure I disagree with it.

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

Order! The member does not assist in the orderly conduct of the House.