House debates Personal Explanations

Tuesday, 9 February 2016 House of Representatives

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

3:13 pm

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

I do.

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

Today during question time the minister made assertions about my conduct whilst I was Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union. These assertions are entirely incorrect, and he knows it.

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Members on my right!

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

The member for Deakin will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to speak without a wall of interjections. I will deal with anyone who interjects. I call the Leader of the Opposition again to proceed with his statement.

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

Today during question time the Prime Minister made assertions about my conduct whilst I was Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union. These assertions are entirely incorrect, and he knows it. Unlike him and the Liberals he leads, I always have and I always will put the interests of workers first every day.