Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do indeed, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

On Friday, 11 February, Fairfax newspapers ran untrue and malicious stories about me which were entirely without foundation and which Justice Garling of the New South Wales Supreme Court described as ‘disgracefully misleading’. These stories were published despite the fact that I have commenced defamation proceedings against Fairfax. I will continue to energetically pursue Fairfax for substantial aggravated damages for the harm its journalists have done to both me and my family.