Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I apologise to the Minister for Trade. I should have given him the opportunity to make his personal explanation.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I do wish to make a personal explanation.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the minister claim to have been misrepresented?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The shadow minister for small business accused me of lying over his support for a government owned bank. The Australian newspaper of 22 May 2010 begins:

Two decades after the collapse of state banks in Victoria and South Australia, the Coalition is considering setting up a government-backed bank to lend money to small and medium businesses.

It said:

The Coalition’s small business spokesman, Bruce Billson, told The Weekend Australian the idea …  had merit …

He went on to say in the article:

“There’s a range of possibilities, including governments offering wholesale lending guarantees like the government did for the big banks after the global financial crisis.

I rest my case.