Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 4 June 2008, I moved a second reading amendment to the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Bill 2008. In the Port Stephens Examiner on 19 June 2008, the Minister for Defence was quoted as saying:

This amendment was rejected by the parliamentary clerks because it did not comply with Parliament House rules.

I ask for the minister to retract this comment. The amendment did go to the House, and the defence minister did vote on the amendment. I also have written confirmation from the Clerk Assistant (Table), Department of the House of Representatives, which clearly states that the amendment was in order. I ask the Minister for Defence to apologise for misleading the newspaper readers on what actually happened.

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Minister for Defence.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, Mr Speaker: it is true that the member for Paterson moved an amendment to that bill, which the government deemed to be discriminatory against some defence families. I was further advised that, at least initially, it was rejected by the clerks as not being in conformity with the standing orders. If there is advice to the contrary, I will be happy to retract.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Baldwin interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I call the member for Paterson only if he has that advice to pass to the minister.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table advice from Robyn McClelland stating that the amendment was in order.

Leave granted.