Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. How can the minister expect this House to believe that he downloaded a fraudulent document from the City of Sydney website, when we all know he's been misleading this House since the day he arrived, and falsely claimed he went to university with Naomi Wolf and that she hates Christmas? The minister has always known this was false, so why won't he just do the decent thing and correct the record?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course I recall seeing and meeting Ms Wolf at New College in Oxford during my time there. She began her studies there in the mid-eighties and she finished at Oxford only a couple of years ago. Now, my speech to the parliament six years ago did not say she was involved in the war on Christmas. But I want to say this: her accusation of anti-Semitism is wrong and deeply offensive to me and my family. Mr Speaker, my grandmother was Jewish, and my belief in Judaeo-Christian values is deeply held. I call on Ms Wolf to apologise for these unsubstantiated and outrageous accusations.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact that the Labor Party has attached itself to anti-Semitic accusations shows you just how low they're prepared to go.

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

The Leader of the Opposition, on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. From where it came is beyond me, Mr Speaker, but this minister just accused us of being anti-Semitic. He's got to withdraw it.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left! The Leader of the House has the call.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No point of order has been nominated. What standing order is he seeking to raise?

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

He wasn't raising a point of order. That last statement does need to be withdrawn. I call the minister.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.