Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
3:29 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Does the Prime Minister claim to have been misrepresented?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
I refer to a report today on the front page of the Courier Mail which states:
The Prime Minister, in responding to a question on the issue during a sitting of Federal Parliament yesterday, declared Brisbane City Council was big enough to deal with its own recovery costs.
That claim is untrue. I never said those words. They do not stand for what I said yesterday. I would refer people to the Hansard for the accurate version.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:30 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Yes, most grievously.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Several ministers claimed that I supported a paid parental leave levy, without mentioning that it would be entirely offset by a 1.5 per cent—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The Leader of the Opposition cannot debate his personal explanation.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
They should stop misleading the House.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Jane Prentice Ryan, Liberal Party
The Lord Mayor of Brisbane faxed a two-page letter and three pages of costings to the Prime Minister’s office—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member must show where she has been misrepresented.
Jane Prentice Ryan, Liberal Party
The Prime Minister claimed that I referred to preliminary costings only, and I was not referring to preliminary costings; I was referring to detailed costings.