Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry claimed in question time today that I have made no public comment on drought. Since assuming this portfolio, I have issued 13 press releases relating to the failure of the Howard government’s drought policy, I have made several policy speeches to industry associations on drought matters and, indeed, I have launched the Labor Party’s policy specifically relating to drought.

The minister also misrepresented my position on farmers accessing assistance in EC declared areas. In that particular statement that I made to the press, I claimed that 13 per cent of farmers in EC declared areas actually receive assistance. That is information that we obtained from the minister’s department in Senate estimates. Given the minister’s performance on the mandatory code of conduct, farmers know who the liar is in this place.

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

The member for Corio will resume his seat. When the member wishes to raise a matter like that, he will stick to where he has been personally misrepresented and not debate the issue.

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Gavan O’Connor interjecting

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Enjoy it while you can, member for Corio, because your own colleagues have kicked you out.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has the call.

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just now the member for Corio misrepresented me. I wish to table the transcript of an ABC interview in which he claimed only 13 per cent of farmers have ever accessed EC provisions. He has misled the Australian public yet again. I seek leave to table the document.

Leave granted.