Warren Entsch Leichhardt, Liberal Party
3:17 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to raise some concerns in relation to a contribution.
Milton Dick Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Warren Entsch Leichhardt, Liberal Party
I've got to say to you that I would have thought better of the comments that were made by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, quite frankly. I thought he was a half-decent person. Nevertheless, he is making accusations, implying some sort of quid-pro-quo arrangement in relation to a fine gentleman who happens to have made a donation. He also, I might add, made a donation of $650,000 to Queensland Health to help them prepare for COVID because the then state minister Bailey had failed to do it. He made another $80,000 donation in equipment there and even a $6,000 donation to feed the Queensland Health staff.
He was approached by a representative from Torres Health to see whether or not he would also be interested in making a donation of an MRI machine to Thursday Island Hospital. That is the reason why he approached me and wanted to know about protocols in travelling up to the Torres Strait. It is because he was invited up there to actually consider making a donation, like the $700,000 he'd done at Cairns.
Milton Dick Speaker
I think the member has explained where he has been misrepresented.
Warren Entsch Leichhardt, Liberal Party
He mentioned to me he was wanting to get—I think it was the Moderna vaccine. I rang the hospital and asked them if it was available. They said yes, and I said, 'What are the protocols?' They said, 'If you present, we've got plenty of it. In fact, we've got quite a bit that's going out of date, and if he wants to present himself up here'—
Warren Entsch Leichhardt, Liberal Party
No, I haven't, I'm sorry, Mr Speaker. He did travel up there, and he spent an hour there looking at what was required.
Milton Dick Speaker
The member has explained where he's been misrepresented.
Warren Entsch Leichhardt, Liberal Party
No wonder this place is looking as bad as it is when you get drubbed—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! Resume your seat. If the member wishes to make further statements, there are other avenues for him in the House to do so.