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.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-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.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-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

Yesterday the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a press release accusing me of misleading Australian farmers by providing inaccurate information in a press release on drought declaration rollovers. The information in that press release came directly from the answer to a question on notice provided by the minister’s department to a Senate committee, and if anyone is misleading farmers it is the minister. I seek leave to table the answer to the question on notice which details the end dates of EC declarations for drought declared areas in Australia.

Leave granted.