Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, 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?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Madam Speaker.

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

Please proceed.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday, along with the Minister for Agriculture, I attended a conference, the Global Food Forum, in Sydney. I told The Australian newspaper's Global Food Forum—an excellent initiative—that I was concerned that the government was pursuing a discriminatory foreign investment policy and applying different FIRB thresholds to different countries. Unfortunately, a story in The Australian newspaper today suggested that I was referring to investment by state-owned enterprises, which, of course, automatically go to the FIRB, a policy I support. I thank The Australian for agreeing to correct the error and I congratulate both News Limited and Visy on what was a magnificent event.