House debates

Monday, 20 August 2018

Personal Explanations

3:13 pm

Photo of Shayne NeumannShayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Shayne NeumannShayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

I do, most grievously.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Blair may proceed.

Photo of Shayne NeumannShayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | | Hansard source

During the last question of question time last Thursday, the Minister for Home Affairs claimed:

… the member for Blair has asked for his first briefing on Operation Sovereign Borders from my department.

This is untrue. Labor has requested numerous briefings and been briefed on Operation Sovereign Borders in its various aspects, and on other departmental matters, including in September 2016, in November 2016, in February 2017, in May 2017, in August 2017, including a meeting on 17 August 2017 with the Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, Air Vice Marshal Stephen Osborne, in September 2017 and in December 2017. At each of these briefings, an adviser from the minister's own office was present.