Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

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

The member for Port Adelaide may proceed.

Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Speaker. In question time today the Prime Minister said, 'The member for Port Adelaide said residential load shedding was required'. In my question I said no such thing. I said that power was cut to households in the electorates of Bennelong, Reid and Robertson. It is a fact supported by tweets on 10 February—last Friday—by Ausgrid, the network operator, confirming that power was cut to 1,200 customers in Narara, power was cut to Burwood in Reid, and power was cut in Ryde, Marsfield and North Ryde in Bennelong.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Port Adelaide will cease interjecting! I would hate to throw him out again; he has just gotten back in time for the MPI.

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

I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

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

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

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

Yes, I do.

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

You may proceed.

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

In question time today the Leader of the House made allegations about me that I do not put workers first. I always have. More seriously, he cast aspersions on people who are not in this place and their relationship with me. Richard Pratt was a close family friend of mine. The Pratt family were best friends of my former wife's family—best friends. My friend Richard Pratt passed away eight years ago.

For the Leader of the House to impugn the reputation of someone who is not alive to defend himself is shameful. Government members can throw all the insults they want at me. If that is all they have left—if that is the best they have—go for it. But to trample on a dead man's memory for political purposes is beneath contempt. I hope that the Leader of the House reflects on his conduct and apologises for it.