House debates Personal Explanations

Thursday, 26 October 2017 House of Representatives

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

10:21 am

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Rob Mitchell

Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

I do. This morning on Sky News, Minister Porter was interviewed by Kieran Gilbert. The interview said:

Kieran Gilbert: It was emerged earlier in the day. Mr Albanese made the assertion, then reports emerged. Surely amid the speculation that there was a tip-off there would have been questions asked.

Minister Porter: Well, Mr Albanese's assertion was that the minister herself had called the media, which—

Kieran Gilbert: Was not far off.

Minister Porter: Well, that is a very serious assertion itself.

Kieran Gilber: It wasn't far off. It was from her office.

Minister Porter: It was very far off. It was absolutely wrong.

Earlier this morning I tabled my comments from the FIVEaa program yesterday in a debate with Christopher Pyne in the Two Tribes segment. I think it's now accepted that I absolutely said that it was the minister's staff who had briefed the media. We now know that that is a fact. Minister Porter contacted me and apologised for his error. I accept his apology and note that that is a mature way in which members should deal with each other. I'm yet to receive an apology from Minister Cash.