Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation to clarify a matter.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Mackellar seems to be confused. The government is firmly committed to abolishing the Superannuation Guarantee age limit for all Australian workers. My second reading speech for the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill yesterday states that the bill will lift the SG limit to 75. It also states that after strong representations from the Labor backbench and the crossbench—the member for Lyne and the member for New England—the government has decided to remove the age limit for superannuation contributions altogether.

The government will introduce our own amendments to the bill to achieve this in a sustainable and prudent way that provides sufficient lead time for employers and older Australians to adjust, unlike the earlier stunt by the member for Mackellar which sought to impose immediate change.

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

Order! The member will not debate it any further. I simply say to the member for Mackellar that she made a submission to me before question time, and whilst I treated that as a misrepresentation it is an attempt to fulfil the first aspect where she said, 'Ask the minister to come back into the House and correct the record'. I did not ask him to, but he has come in and prefaced his remarks by saying that they were a clarification.

There is plenty of opportunity to make points through the debate of the bills. I simply say to the member for Mackellar that I think she may have achieved what she intended to achieve as best as can be at this point in time. But if she insists upon the call, I call the member for Mackellar.

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

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation. I have been misrepresented.

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

The member claims to have been misrepresented. Please proceed.

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

When the Assistant Treasurer rose he said that I had been confused. I would simply read from his tabling speech where he said:

And this bill abolishes the superannuation guarantee age limit.

It does not. And when the minister rose he did not correct the record. He said, 'Oh, we will amend in the future.'

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

Order! The member will resume her seat. I indicate to the member for Mackellar that, as far as I am concerned, this item is now closed. I have suggested that there are other ways—when the debate is on—she can make points, but as far as I am concerned she asked for a clarification and she was given a clarification.

Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country 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?

Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, most grievously.

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

Please proceed.

Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Sunday's 'Bushranger' in the Northern Territory Newson 30 October—

Government members interjecting—

You're a joke.

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

The member will ignore interjections and the interjectors will cease.

Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Northern Territory News claims that I supported the GP superclinic in the northern suburbs of Darwin. I have never supported a GP superclinic in the northern suburbs.