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

The member for Eden-Monaro has come and indicated to me he wishes to make a personal explanation. Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Mike Kelly (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do. In question time today, the minister of energy, in response to my question concerning his relationship to the company Jam Land Pty Ltd, stated that he had a strong interest and was representing the farmers of his electorate. He identified that electorate as encompassing the Monaro and then stated that I had not represented the interests of the farmers of the Monaro. Firstly, of course, the Monaro is not in Hume. Secondly, I had caused my staff to research whether or not there had been any issues raised with me concerning this grasslands issue at the heart of this matter. We have not received a single concern from any constituent in Eden-Monaro. The only concerns that have been raised with my office have been in relation to the minister's behaviour.

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

No, I'll say to the member for Eden-Monaro that he needed to go to where he had been misrepresented. I'm going to say to all members: I'm not going to tolerate political debate within these personal explanations. The purpose is to state where you've been misrepresented and not continue the debate. He has more than enough opportunities here and in the Federation Chamber to pursue whatever debates he wishes to.