Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.

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

Do you claim to be misrepresented?

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do indeed.

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

You may proceed.

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During question time, the Minister for the NDIS made a statement. He said:

I went through my file about when did the ministers of the government start talking about fraud. I went through all of the seven coalition ministers for the NDIS. They never put out one press release on challenging or detecting fraud, not one—zip, nada, zilch!

I have in front of me a media release. It's a joint media release with myself and Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, at the time that she was the NDIS minister. It's headed 'Morrison government cracks down NDIS fraud'. It actually goes to the arrest of a man for allegedly defrauding the NDIS of more than $120,000. In that media release, I said:

All Australians suffer when public money is defrauded. That's why this government is serious about taking strong action to protect against fraud … The hardworking men and women of the AFP, and their partners in the NDIS Fraud taskforce, should be proud of the work they are doing to protect people with a disability and safeguard the integrity of taxpayer funds.

Minister Reynolds at the time said:

This alleged criminal activity is precisely why the Federal Government recently extended the NDIS Fraud taskforce on an indefinite basis.

Mr Speaker, the minister needs to return to the House and withdraw his remarks.