Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The questions raised by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities concerning flying foxes in Queensland are of very great importance. In one town alone in North Queensland there were three deaths in one year from leptospirosis—in just one town. In the recent elections the ALP did not win one seat in North Queensland. It is one of the burning issues. The incoming government promised that there would be immediate action. What I want to ask the minister—

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

The member for Kennedy needs to demonstrate where he has been misrepresented.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The way I have been misrepresented relates to the fact that I have been quoted in the media as having spoken in praise of the incoming government's commitment on the flying foxes. I have been very badly misrepresented, as that was done on the basis of an undertaking that they were fair dinkum, and I found out today that they are anything but fair dinkum.

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

The member for Kennedy has indicated where he has been misrepresented. He cannot enter into debate.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I claim to have been misrepresented, because I am on record as saying that the incoming government should be praised for what they were doing, when in fact they were not doing anything at all, so I have clearly been misrepresented.

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

The member for Kennedy has demonstrated where he has been misrepresented.

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the member for Indi claim to have been misrepresented?

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, yes, I do.

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

The member for Indi has the call and will be heard in silence.

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In some online media reports this afternoon it was stated that I was trustee of the estate of the late Dr Colin Howard QC, that I had failed to make disclosure, and that somehow this was going to lead to tit for tat. I think it was in the online Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

Order! The Leader of the House does not have the call. It is a personal explanation and the member for Indi will be heard in silence.

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first paragraph of the explanatory notes in the Register of Members' Interests says:

The purpose of the Register of Members' Interests is to place on the public record Members' interests which may conflict, or may be seen to conflict, with their public duty.

Firstly, as the estate remains in administration, I am executor and not trustee. Secondly, it is no secret that I was named executor of the said estate. It was, after all, on the front pages of the newspapers and easily accessible on the Supreme Court Registry. Thirdly, the rules are silent about the matters that need to be added to the register. I have been advised by the Clerk of the House of Representatives that the notes do not specify what date or event triggers the 28-day period within which notifications need to be made—that is, whether or not that would be on the granting of probate or an earlier or later date. So the matter of when the 28 days is triggered should be clarified for all members.

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

The member for Indi needs to state where she has been misrepresented.

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In any event, if there has been an inadvertent omission, it was obviously not a deliberate or knowing omission. The pitiable attempt by the member for Grayndler to suggest some kind of moral equivalence with Labor scandal will attract the scorn it deserves.

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

The member for Indi will resume her seat.