Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, grievously and serially.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister today said that I had blocked the Malaysian people-swap legislation. This is false. It was never actually put to the parliament.

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the comments of the Prime Minister in relation to me—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the member for Berowra claim to have been misrepresented?

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Absolutely.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Berowra has the call. Please proceed.

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister correctly acknowledged that I have said that the Howard government solutions are not a menu that you can pick and choose from and all must be implemented to deal with this issue. I do acknowledge, given the size of the problem with something like 35,000 unlawfuls, that more might need to be done, but I have said in relation to the Malaysian solution, as it is called, that it is seriously flawed and would not work as proposed by the government.