House debates

Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Personal Explanations

3:16 pm

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Most grievously, by the Treasurer.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Then he has indulgence to proceed.

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

The Treasurer asserted during question time that I had said all superannuation tax concessions were indefensible. This is just not true. I had said that delaying reform of superannuation tax concessions would be indefensible. The only person who has said all tax concessions on superannuation should be abolished was the now Prime Minister in his book, Battlelines.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

We are now going into argument, which is not acceptable.

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Then he may proceed.

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for McMahon just misquoted himself, and I refer to the address to the Committee for Sustainable Retirement Incomes—

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Treasurer will resume his seat. The rule for personal explanations is simply that the member may show where he or she believes they have been misrepresented and then correct the record. They may not enter into debate. The member for McMahon, in fact, erred with the last part of his explanation and the Treasurer erred at the beginning of his. The Treasurer can try again, on indulgence.

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

I apologise profusely, Madam Speaker. The member for McMahon just suggested that I made reference to all concessions; in fact, I said: 'It is indefensible to suggest we can leave superannuation tax concessions for another day.' I would table his speech for the assistance of the House, but I have written on his speech 'Never let this go'.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

As a minister, you are entitled to table anything you wish at this point.

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Treasurer will return to his seat. We have two issues here. The first is that the Treasurer said he would table a document, which he has the right to do as a minister, but he is also entitled to keep private notes from being tabled. I would ask the Treasurer: does he have a copy of the document he said he would table which does not contain private notes?

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

No, it does have private notes, but I am happy to table it because the private note says 'Code 4, we are coming after your super', which is Labor—there you go.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The document is therefore tabled.