Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) 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?

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Very much so.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! The member has the call. The member for Banks, as a defender of members’ rights, should sit there quietly.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the Senate yesterday during question time, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy, misrepresented me.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am afraid so. It is harsh but true. He selectively used only part of a 22 May quote in which I stated:

I have made it perfectly clear that I would not criticise the minister for extending his deadlines.

These remarks related to the national broadband network tender. In fairness, he should have read the entire quote, which went on to say:

However, he should not stop there. He needs to re-engineer this whole process, taking into account the thoughtful suggestions of the opposition.

The offer not to criticise him was linked to correcting his dodgy process and he should have made that clear in the Senate.

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

The honourable member has clarified the matter.

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party) 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?

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, again. In question time today the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts misrepresented statements that I made almost two years ago when asked by a radio journalist if I supported a pilot program testing shadecloth on a section of the Great Barrier Reef.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

The member will resume her seat. When the House comes to order we will get over this.

Fran Bailey (McEwen, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To complete my response, I said that I supported scientific research on part of the reef. The minister for the environment might want to divert from his response, but he is the one who has to be held accountable for his lack of action to the people of my electorate.

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

The member has put her case to show where she has been misrepresented.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

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

The Leader of the Opposition has been on a spring-loaded device.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do—most grievously. I refer to remarks made by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, who suggested that I had sought Labor Party preselection for the Senate. As he knows, that is quite untrue.