House debates

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Personal Explanations

4:33 pm

Photo of Trent ZimmermanTrent Zimmerman (North Sydney, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Kevin HoganKevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Trent ZimmermanTrent Zimmerman (North Sydney, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I do.

Photo of Kevin HoganKevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Please continue.

Photo of Trent ZimmermanTrent Zimmerman (North Sydney, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

On the last sitting day of 2019, the Manager of Opposition Business raised with the speaker a question in relation to my role as a member of the Speaker's panel in the Federation Chamber during proceedings that day. During his question he suggested I was encouraging government members to move that an opposition member be no longer heard from the chair. This was not the case.

On the occasion in question, a government member was seeking to gain my attention to move a motion. I sought to indicate to the member that to do it properly he would need the call and would need to rise to do so. I was not seeking to direct the member to undertake a particular course of action, but I apologise to the House if any such perception were created.

Photo of Kevin HoganKevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the member.