House debates

Monday, 3 March 2014

Personal Explanations

3:10 pm

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

Most egregiously.

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

In an article on 2 March, Bianca Hall wrote:

… Immigration Minister Scott Morrison claiming Labor senator Stephen Conroy keeps showing ''how small a man he is' …

I have said many things about Senator Conroy; that he had undertaken a coward's sledge against General Campbell and other things, but I never said that. What I said—and I refer to the Hansardwas:

The Leader of the Opposition in his response to this motion today has demonstrated how small a man he is when the challenge is put to him.

I have another personal explanation, Madam Speaker, if I may?

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

You will keep this one much tighter.

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

I will. Thank you. It was reported on the weekend, in the same publication by the same journalist, that my department had a team of 66 strong 'spin doctors'—their words. I can confirm that there are only 39.7 full-time equivalent staff employed in that area of my department. The number under the previous government when we came to office was 44.6.

Photo of Ed HusicEd Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Why didn't you answer the query? That is not an explanation. He refused to answer the journalist's inquiries. You can't—

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The member for Chifley is out of order.

Photo of Ed HusicEd Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

But spot on.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I call the Leader of the House.

3:11 pm

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | | Hansard source

He is very rude, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, assuming we are moving on—you have nothing else?

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I call the Leader of the House, yes.