House debates

Thursday, 7 December 2023

Statements

Personal Explanation

3:40 pm

Photo of Dan TehanDan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

Speaker, I'd like to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Dan TehanDan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

Most egregiously, Mr Speaker.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

You may proceed.

Photo of Dan TehanDan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

During question time, the Prime Minister said that I wasn't available for a legal briefing because I was at the Jericho Cup—a commemorative race meeting which honours those who have fallen in the service of duty during the First World War, including the Charge of the Light Brigade—and he said that I was playing politics.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member may resume his seat. You've corrected—

An honourable member interjecting

Well, you've confirmed what the Prime Minister said was true, so you need to claim what the misrepresentation was.

Photo of Dan TehanDan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | | Hansard source

He said I wasn't available to have that briefing. That briefing hadn't been offered. It was offered Sunday night—Sunday night, after the races. You—

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Resume your seat. The Prime Minister is seeking the call. Order!

3:41 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to give a personal explanation.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I do, Mr Speaker. The offers were made—I go to the member for Wannon's statement—on Sunday night, Monday at 8 am, Monday at 4 pm and ever since. It is now Thursday, at 20 to four, and at no stage has the opposition taken up the opportunity of receiving access to the legal advice.