Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the member for Bass claim to have been misrepresented?

Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Most egregiously. Mr Speaker, during question time the member for Watson, at the urging of the opposition leader, requested that I withdraw a reference about a speech given by the opposition leader in Adelaide last September. At your request I withdrew, to assist the House. But the reference to the opposition leader's speech as 'stinking of racist and protectionist rhetoric' was not my comment; it was in The Australian newspaper on 11 September 2014.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bass will resume his seat. The member for Watson will resume his seat.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

The member for Charlton will cease interjecting. I will deal with this matter very quickly. As I said—

Mr Stephen Jones interjecting—

I do not need the member for Throsby bellowing advice to me, okay? The member for Bass would have heard yesterday that the fact that something is quoted is not a defence against unparliamentary language. And the member for Bass will withdraw again.

Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.