Damian Drum (Murray, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I speak to the bill and while the member for Hunter is still in the chamber, I owe him an explanation for comments made in relation to another issue in this House—the backpacker tax. During that debate I was very critical of the way in which the member for Hunter conducted himself in that debate. I made comments about people from my area ringing his office only to be hung up on. I have since worked through where those constituents came from and it turns out that no-one rang the member for Hunter's office and was hung up on. That scenario took place in Senator Hinch's office and whilst I have no love for the member for Hunter's behaviour during the backpacker tax debate—I will remain eternally critical of the member for Hunter's behaviour during the backpacker tax affair—I do owe him and his office an apology for the false accusation. However, that said, it is now time to move on to the biosecurity issues in this bill.

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