Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
3:18 pm
I wish to make a personal explanation.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
I do claim to have been misrepresented.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Then I ask her to explain where she has been misrepresented.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister for Health referred to the Wanneroo GP Superclinic and implied that its progress was slow. I inform the Minister for Health—he could have checked this himself with the department—that construction has been underway since February this year. This is a project with Edith Cowan University that is being done with the Western Australian government, who have also contributed $5 million to the project—
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
He also commented on the program more generally.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Members might wish to ask the former Leader of the House how to make a personal explanation. A debate can be held on the adjournment or 90-second statements or legislation, but the member has not indicated that she has misrepresented at all. She is simply arguing the point, and there are forms of the House in which she can do that. This is not the right method to use.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I thank the Leader of the House, and he is quite right. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has said she has shown that the work began this year. I understand that that was work that was supposed to begin or was flagged to begin in 2007. She said it has now started—
Ms Plibersek interjecting—
Well, in that case, perhaps you could say how your position was misrepresented.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
The minister was implying that—
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
this program was slow or behind time, and—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I am sorry; that is debate. Members will resume their seats. It is not a question of implying. It is a question of something that was said that is supposedly a fact where you have a statement that refutes that position. If you can make that statement very concisely, then we will entertain it; otherwise, you can resume your seat.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Madam Speaker, he disparaged the program. Fifty out of 60 are operational—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Sorry, this is debate. No, this is not in order. The member will resume her seat and the Leader of the House will resume his seat. I am hesitant to echo the words of the Leader of the House, but: the member for Hunter was good and the member for Grayndler was even better. The manner in which he went about correcting a misrepresentation was exemplary. Mr Albanese, perhaps you could hold a seminar. I think we will proceed with business. Members will resume their seats.