Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly do.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon may proceed.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 2 March on Macquarie radio, in an interview with Ray Hadley, the Treasurer said of me:

Chris Bowen was the Immigration Minister and, remember, he was the bloke who renewed Alex Vella’s visa.

The House might recall that Mr Vella was associated with the Rebels motorcycle gang, so this is a very serious allegation. Accordingly, I subsequently wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in accordance with my rights as a former minister under the Archives Act 1983 and requested to be provided with all documents that were provided to me or my office in relation to Mr Vella during my time as minister. The secretary has today written to me indicating that no such documents exist and no decision-making material was provided to me during my time as minister. Accordingly, the allegation made against me by the Treasurer is false and I invite him not to make it again.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Treasurer claim to have been misrepresented?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer may proceed.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the comments that the member refers to, where he claims that I was making the assertion that he says, when I was minister for immigration, I called up Alex Vella's visa to make sure it could be cancelled. As a minister, when you want to chuck bikies out of the country, you take action, which you did not do. As a result, by implication, you renewed Alex Vella's visa.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will resume his seat.

Honourable members interjecting—

Members on both sides of the House.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Mr Morrison interjecting—

The Treasurer and the member for McMahon are interrupting me.

Mr Morrison interjecting—

The Treasurer will cease interjecting. I am seeking to address the House. If the Treasurer and the member for McMahon want to continue their argument, they can do it outside of the House. We have other business to move on with.