Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Sydney Morning Herald's website today quotes Mr Max Moore-Wilton, the chairman of the Sydney Airports Corporation, accusing me of fabrication over my suggestion in this House last night that when he was Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2002 he would have known about conditions, including a curfew, a movement cap, guaranteed access for regional airlines and a first right of refusal that were applied to the sale of Sydney airport. Mr Moore-Wilton is quoted in this report as calling me a 'grub' and as saying:

Certainly it was not an issue I was involved in.

The facts are these. In a question on notice to a Senate budget estimates committee hearing dated 26-27 May 2003, Senator John Faulkner asked when cabinet had discussed the sale of the airport and whether Mr Moore-Wilton was present. The response from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said that full cabinet discussed the sale of the airport on 12 December 2000, 26 March 2001, 24 September 2001 and 11 March 2002. The department reported, and I quote from Hansard:

Mr Moore-Wilton attended all four meetings of Cabinet.

I seek leave to table the question on notice and the answer.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is an answer to a question on notice.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is 2003. It will make it easier for them find in the Senate.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Would the member show where she has been misrepresented.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Health said that I took money away from cancer patients when I was the health minister. In fact, spending on new cancer medicines increased dramatically under my watch. In fact, more than 30 new medicines were listed on the PBS for 17 different types of cancers and no patient ever paid more than $36.10 for medicines subsidised under the PBS.