Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
3:11 pm
Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?
Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
I do, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, without any notice, the member for Rankin launched a personal attack on me in the Federation Chamber. First, he accused me of slurring the Chairman of the Foreign Investment Review Board, Mr Brian Wilson. This accusation impugns my reputation by insinuating that I made false statements in relation to Mr Wilson, whom I have never named in any statement that I have made and implies that I have no foundation on which to make the statement that I did make—that there has been a failure of leadership at FIRB.
I refer the House to the recently tabled report of the House Standing Committee on Economics, entitled Report on foreign investment in residential real estate. Specifically, I remind the member for Rankin and the House of the following paragraphs in this unanimous report—paragraphs 2.74—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Higgins has made her point. It is not an opportunity for argument.
Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
If it assists the House, these paragraphs that I would like to outline highlight the committee's criticism of FIRB—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
This is going to argument. The member for Higgins has made her position quite clear and has shown where she has been misrepresented. You may not go on to argument.
Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
I have also been misrepresented by the member for Rankin, who went on to state that I blame Mr Wilson for any holes in the foreign investment regime. This is not borne out by the report, nor by my statement in my foreword. I reiterate the point made earlier that, regarding FIRB and Treasury's internal processes, lack of court enforcement and divestment orders—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
When making a point of personal explanation, it is simply that you must say where you have been misrepresented and why it is not so, but you may not engage in argument, nor in reading out reams of material. You are on the second point, and if I could have some silence on my left I could hear what she is saying.
Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
The point I make as to why I have been misrepresented is that the committee report does—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Member for Higgins, you are not making out a case as to why. You are simply saying you have been misrepresented, and this is why it is not true.
Kelly O'Dwyer Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
Finally, the member for Rankin impugned my reputation as chairman of the committee, stating that my behaviour throughout this process has left a lot to be desired. The committee has met on 18 separate occasions and members were provided with the opportunity to provide a dissenting report, which they did not. And they had six days in which to provide it.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Higgins has concluded her remarks.