Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to make a personal explanation.

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

The member for Melbourne will refrain for a moment. Members leaving the chamber will do so quietly. The member for Melbourne has the call.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dawson made—

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

Does the member for Melbourne seek to make a personal explanation?

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I claim to have been misrepresented.

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

Please proceed.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dawson made a comment during question time, which I will not repeat, which was simply untrue.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence on my right. The member has the call.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

It was simply untrue. I also make the point that it was raised as a point of order. You ruled that there was no point of order. I might just note that that puts the member at a disadvantage, not being able to respond to an untrue allegation that is made about them during question time whilst broadcasting is in effect.

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

I call the member for Dawson.

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I claim to have been misrepresented.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I claim to have been misrepresented because the member for Melbourne has just claimed I said something untrue. All I will say is I have ears, and look how close I am to him.

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

I understand that the Leader of the Opposition has a matter he wishes to raise. Is it a personal explanation? Does he claim to have been misrepresented?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, most grievously—by the Leader of the House.

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

Please proceed.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, during question time, the Leader of the House suggested that I asked for charges against an individual to be dropped. That allegation is completely untrue.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence: if I did misrepresent the Leader of the Opposition on that serious matter, I apologise for doing so. I was simply reflecting a story in The Sydney Morning Heraldwhich I am happy to table for the benefit of the parliament so that members can see the facts as they were presented by The Sydney Morning Herald.