House debates

Thursday, 6 June 2024

Statements

Personal Explanation

3:31 pm

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

Mr Speaker, I also would like to make a personal explanation.

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

Do you claim to be misrepresented?

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

I do. It goes to the establishment of the NDIS Fraud taskforce, which was established on 24 July 2018. It was one of the first things that I did as Minister for Social Services. I did it in conjunction with the Hon. Michael Keenan and the Hon. Angus Taylor. We put out a release. I won't read the whole release, but it says this:

The Taskforce will have 100 dedicated personnel to tackle fraud through combined law enforcement efforts, increased information sharing and analytics and—

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

I'm sorry to interrupt, but you haven't explained who misrepresented you and how. You've just started reading the press release. Just explain to the House, like the member for McPherson did, what happened and why it was wrong.

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

I have been misrepresented by the Minister for Social Services the Hon. Bill Shorten

Photo of Amanda RishworthAmanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | | Hansard source

I'm the Minister for Social Services!

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

Sorry, and the Minister for the NDIS the Hon. Bill Shorten when he said that not one coalition member—

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

The Minister for the NDIS, not the Minister for Social Services.

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

Yes, the Minister for the NDIS. He said that not one coalition—

Government members interjecting

It's very hard because of the noise and the interjections.

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

Just continue. If members on my right would assist the House and show respect to the member for Wannon. You may continue.

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

I note the Leader of Opposition Business is the one who's also yelling, and he should know better.

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

He should. He's behind you!

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

The Minister for the NDIS said that not one coalition member had put out one single press release in relation to fraud. He said, 'Nada, nothing, fraud.' This is what this press release said:

The Government takes fraud very seriously, and people who commit fraud against the NDIS are taking money from Australians with a disability—which will not be tolerated.

This is a very serious issue. Someone has misled the House grievously, and it should be corrected.