Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Most grievously, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You may proceed.

Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A headline in today's Australian says, 'Ex-Nationals appointee John McVeigh evicted from Murray-Darling rivers panel chair.' Briefly, for context, the article says:

Labor has dropped former Nationals MP John McVeigh as the head of an expert Murray-Darling rivers panel …

…   …   …

… as chair of the Modernising Murray River Systems Review Panel …

There are two points. The first one is that Dr—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I call the Leader of the House on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On personal explanations, the standing order that the honourable member is using is a really specific standing order where you have to show where you have been personally misrepresented. If the misrepresentation is not personal and not established at the outset, members have normally not been allowed to proceed.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will allow the member to proceed and ask him to come immediately to where he has been misrepresented.

Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The story also claims, wrongly, 'by the Minister for Water', and that this is 'typical of the Nationals' approach to the basin'. I make two points. The story also did not include—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. Member for Hinkler, I will give you one more chance to immediately demonstrate where you have been misrepresented, not the Nationals, not anyone else—you. You have the call.

Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point that was made was that I had incorrectly appointed Dr McVeigh, that his qualifications were not included. They include, for example, that he has a bachelor in business; a masters in business administration; and a PhD including being in, would you believe, sustainable water use in Australian irrigated agriculture, which is directly relevant to the appointment.