Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) 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?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

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

Please proceed.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today after question time the member for Parkes, in a personal explanation, suggested that I had put out a misleading press release with regard to the nation building program and the black spot—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The standing orders prohibit these matters being debated, and that is precisely what the Leader of the House is attempting to do under the guise of an explanation.

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

The Leader of the House will come to where he has been misrepresented.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parkes suggested that I had put out a misleading press release. That is not true. The amendment that he voted for would have failed to allow black spot programs that were on the national network, including the ones in his electorate, to be funded.

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary 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?

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday in the Queensland parliament, the member for Mundingburra claimed that a press release that I put out to the Townsville Bulletin, which was subsequently published in the Townsville Bulletin, was racist. An examination of that press release will show that there are no racist comments whatsoever in it.