Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to give a personal explanation.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to be misrepresented?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr Speaker.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was by the member for La Trobe, the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs in social media posts on 29 November and 30 November. It concerns barbecue-gate. The member for La Trobe has joined the conspiracy theorists that a barbecue cooked for me by the Premier of Victoria on Saturday was a fake. I can confirm that, just like the moon landing, it was real. The steaks were cooked perfectly medium-rare. The steaks were cooked but not as cooked as the member for La Trobe.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to clarify a misrepresentation by the Prime Minister in question time. He misrepresented my position.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the member for Maribyrnong wishing to make a personal explanation?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I'm seeking to make a personal explanation.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the member for Maribyrnong claim to be misrepresented.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, by the Prime Minister in question time.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Maribyrnong has the call.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today the Prime Minister answered a question which I raised yesterday about Harper Murnane. The Prime Minister said that he had written to me just before question time, which he had, and he said that the plan of the person we asked about yesterday hadn't been cut compared to the previous year.

Upon receipt of the letter from the Prime Minister before question time, I reached out to the mother—

Government members interjecting—

Surely the mother of the person counts here. And she says—the Prime Minister said—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Maribyrnong will just pause for one moment. You're claiming to be misrepresented. How is this a personal explanation?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister said that we were seeking to use the story of Harper's cuts for political purposes. That is not the case. The mother—

Government members interjecting—

Just hear us. A couple of sentences won't kill you. The mother has written to me at two o'clock—

Government members interjecting—

This is about the mother of the person you claim to care about. The mother has written to me because I sent her the Prime Minister's letter, and the mother has said that in the time that the cuts occurred to her son, he's now legally blind, he's lost his ability to talk—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Maribyrnong will resume his seat. The Leader of the House, on a point of order?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order—

Opposition members interjecting—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will wait one moment. I can't hear the Leader of the House when I'm getting all these interjections on my left. The Leader of the House has the call.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're all in agreement that this is a very difficult circumstance. If there are details that the honourable member wishes to bring to the attention of the minister, then the minister has, I'm sure, every capability and every desire to resolve the issue, and that's where it should be undertaken. In terms of the words that have just been used, that is not a representation in relation to being misrepresented in this place; it was adding somehow to a question that was put earlier. I don't think it's in order.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House can resume his seat. I will uphold the point of order.