House debates

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Personal Explanations

4:14 pm

Photo of George ChristensenGeorge Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Llew O'BrienLlew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of George ChristensenGeorge Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes, most grievously—once again.

Photo of Llew O'BrienLlew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Photo of George ChristensenGeorge Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Members in this place from the opposition, both in question time and the MPI, and also in the press, have falsely accused me of saying within the government party room that working women were outsourcing parenting. That is false. What I said to the government party room in a statement that was supportive of both increased childcare funding and also more funding for so-called stay-at-home parents, was that I made reference to the term 'outsourcing care'. That's not a pejorative term but exactly what childcare centres provide for both parents—not just women: outsourced care for children.