House debates
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Statements
Personal Explanation
3:21 pm
Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
[by video link] Mr Speaker, 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?
Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
On 16 April this year the Opposition Leader visited my electorate to make a series of unsubstantiated allegations, referencing my standing in the community I represent. During the course of a televised media interview conducted right in front of my electorate office, the Opposition Leader misrepresented me, claiming I had engaged in behaviour that brings politics into disrepute and that I have not represented the community and was an embarrassment to the local community. He then stated the words: 'This is a creep,' without any independent substantiation whatsoever. Finally, he misrepresented my apology, claiming that it was for behaviour when in fact it was nothing of the sort. My apology was for any hurt or distress that communication may have caused. With the clear documentary evidence now available and the absence of any complaint on these matters to answer after six months, let alone any investigation or even a charge, I repudiate these misrepresentations by the Opposition Leader and ask him to correct the record now that all this information is in the public domain.
3:22 pm
Craig Kelly (Hughes, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?
Craig Kelly (Hughes, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
On Monday 18 October, the member for Gellibrand, in a speech to this parliament, stated that 'the member for Hughes was banned from Facebook for spreading COVID-19 misinformation'. This is false. I was banned from Facebook for republishing the opinions and peer-reviewed studies of people like Dr Peter McCulloch, Dr Zelenko, Dr Brian Tyson, Professor Harvey Risch, Professor Thomas Borody, Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy, Professor Paul Marik, Dr Pierre Kory—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Hughes will pause for a second. I would just say to the member for Hughes that you need to show where you believe you have been misrepresented. I think you have done that, and giving a whole list of examples doesn't add to the point you have made. So, unless you have an additional point to make, I'd ask you to wrap up.
Craig Kelly (Hughes, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Thank you, Mr Speaker. There are many other highly qualified medical professionals that I could quote. Facebook are not the arbiters of truth. The opinions and peer reviewed published studies of highly qualified medical experts are not misinformation because they are different to the propaganda swallowed so easily by people like the member for Gellibrand.
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
No, the member for Hughes will resume his seat.