Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, under standing order 68 I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Manager of Opposition Business claim to have been misrepresented?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do, Mr Speaker, by the Minister for Health and Ageing in question time today.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He claimed that in a recent speech I had stated that the Medicare safety net disproportionately favours coalition electorates whereas the electorate of Grayndler had received the most moneys under the Medicare safety net. Mr Speaker, this is not only completely untrue; it is laughable.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The very list released by the Minister for Health and Ageing shows that the top four electorates receiving money under the Medicare safety net are Wentworth, North Sydney, Bradfield and Warringah.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member has finished. She has completed her personal explanation.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order to draw your attention to the fact that the member for Lalor was debating the point in her personal explanation. While I am at it, we all know how—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for O’Connor will resume his seat. Member for O’Connor, I was listening carefully to the member for Lalor, albeit with some difficulty because of all the interjections, but as soon as she had completed her personal explanation she resumed her seat.