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

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

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

Yes.

Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

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

Last Thursday in parliament I referred to events in the chamber of 21 June 2000. This afternoon the Leader of the Opposition stated that the claim that I made was wrong. I refer an article by Alan Ramsey on Saturday, 24 June 2000—therefore, a contemporary version. The article said:

Abbott himself got his marching orders after moving in a threatening manner towards the Opposition benches after Labor’s Graham Edwards, a legless Vietnam veteran, had interjected: “You’re a disgrace.”

I refer also to the Australian today, a blog from the Jack the Insider, which says:

Abbott did not excuse himself from the House directly. Enraged, the former Oxford boxing blue veered ominously towards the Opposition benches.

For a man who has been involved in the odd stink, albeit on the fields of sporting contest, it did look awful or at least potentially so. But Abbott didn’t get far. He presumably thought better of engaging in a physical confrontation with his political opponents and left the chamber under escort.

Tony Abbott had become the first Minister to be punted from the parliament in forty years.

A check of the Hansard will show that I am mentioned in Hansard immediately after the now Leader of the Opposition was ejected from the House. My memory is correct, as other members of the House who were there on that day will confirm. I thank the House.