House debates
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Personal Explanations
3:16 pm
Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?
Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Most grievously, by the Treasurer.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Then he has indulgence to proceed.
Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to 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.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
We are now going into argument, which is not acceptable.
Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?
Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for McMahon just misquoted himself, and I refer to the address to the Committee for Sustainable Retirement Incomes—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to 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.
Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to 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'.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
As a minister, you are entitled to table anything you wish at this point.
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to 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?
Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to 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.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The document is therefore tabled.