Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to address a misrepresentation.

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

The minister claims to have been misrepresented?

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

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

The minister may proceed.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Macquarie, during the 90-second statement period, asserted that, as social services minister, I'd terminated a contract with Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia. The actual situation is that there was a relevant subcontract between Medibank Health Solutions and Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, which was due to end by the effluxion of time on 30 June 2017. That contract was extended to the end of next month to allow for the completion of a tender process. That tender process was conducted by Medibank Health Solutions, not my office or the department.

The result of the tender process was to offer future subcontracts to four not-for-profit providers and to increase the funding by $5 million and counselling to 17 extra counsellors. The four successful not-for-profit groups were DV Connect, safe steps, Women's Safety Services and Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia. No termination occurred. In fact, Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia declined the offer to be a subcontractor on the panel.

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've been misrepresented. I seek leave to make a personal explanation—with some coaching.

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

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do claim to be misrepresented.

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

The member may proceed and go to the misrepresentation.

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister claims that I said that the RDVSA had not received funding. I said they had been defunded, which is exactly what has happened. I also made it clear that they had chosen—

Ms Husar interjecting—

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

The member for Lindsay will cease interjecting. The member for Macquarie has outlined where she's been misrepresented. If there is a second misrepresentation—

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a second misrepresentation.

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

I'm addressing the chamber. If there's a second misrepresentation, the member for Macquarie will go to it. But these are not opportunities to debate the issues. Otherwise, you can both come back in the 90-second statements tomorrow.

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister also said that there was a tender process. What I made very clear was that they had chosen not to because their professional ethics did not allow them to do it under the terms the government had created.