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

If I can just have members' attention for a second, I undertook at the start of the week to endeavour to give an update on the upcoming by-elections. I will do that in a second. I'm just going to allow the Leader of the Opposition to make a personal explanation first.

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

Yes.

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

You claim to have been misrepresented?

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

Yes, the Prime Minister misrepresented my office in an answer he gave.

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

The Leader of the Opposition may proceed.

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

The Prime Minister said my office fabricated a transcript. That is not correct. Furthermore, the Prime Minister and the government should stop smearing the staff in my office. They cannot defend themselves against you. It is beneath you to bully staff members—beneath you.

Honourable members interjecting—