Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Training and Sport) 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?

Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Training and Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Training and Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday, in summing up on a bill, the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment misread, misunderstood and misrepresented a speech I made at the National Employment Services Association Conference in August. His assertion was that I had ignored research showing that the best results for job seekers came from a mixture of job search and work focused education or training. In actual fact, I made that very point in my speech. I also said that the Productivity Places Program was very much a skill first, or training first, approach for job seekers. That comment is supported by the latest figures—

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

Order!

Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Training and Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

showing that the Productivity Places Program is currently achieving employment outcomes of only 7.1 per cent.

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

Order! The member has shown where he was misrepresented. He must not debate.

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor 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?

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, definitely.

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

Please proceed.

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Wednesday, 18 November 2009, the member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt, issued a media release titled ‘Rudd must repudiate offensive attack on school chaplains’. The honourable gentleman has selectively quoted from my speech of 19 October 2009 in the Main Committee on the subject of school chaplains to support his attack upon me. I understand the honourable member may be overly sensitive to criticism of a program with which he was involved, but he must realise that there are many who do not always subscribe to his point of view. I find his vitriol offensive and would point out that selective quoting makes for inaccurate argument.

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

Order! The honourable member will resume her seat.

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have not attacked—

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

Order! The member has shown where she has been misrepresented.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She claims to have been misrepresented.

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

All right. She has made her personal explanation.