Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to refer the House to a story titled 'Elderly blamed for long hospital waiting lists' in the 28 June 2011 edition of the Australian newspaper. The first sentence of the story states:

HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has blamed the increase in the number of older Australians for the failure of her reforms to cut hospital waiting lists …

This claim is completely fabricated. I never said such a thing, and this is particularly poor reporting. In fact, I itemised the way the government's reforms were delivering to the community, and I would like to refer people to the transcript of the press conference for an accurate version of what was said. I table that transcript.