Janelle Saffin (Page, 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?

Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowper said in tabling a petition in the House last week on the issue of bats at Maclean High School that bureaucratic inaction had been made worse by my refusal to support removal of the bats. The member for Cowper needs to tell the truth about this situation. I have been working closely with this school community since mid February to help new principal Mr Tony Carr, the parents and citizens association and the New South Wales Department of Education and Training lodge a fresh application for approval to disperse flying foxes. I had previously advised how to achieve this, as with the expiration of the licence there had been no action taken.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

It seems okay for other people to break the House rules.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member is entitled to show where she has been misrepresented, but she is debating the issue and that is outside the standing orders.

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

I will make the decision about when she gets into debating. The member for Page should be very careful. She will conclude her personal explanation.

Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am showing where I was misrepresented.

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

The member for Page will just continue.

Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also received this month a letter from the Maclean High School P&C, which said that members wished to express their gratitude for my comprehensive assistance in regard to moving this matter forward and hope that this support will continue in the future.

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

The member for Page will resume her seat.

Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Saffin interjecting

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

The member for Page will resume her seat! I do not thank the member for continuing after she was asked and invited to resume her seat, especially when the microphones prevented her from adding argument to the explanation.