Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented.

Leave granted.

Last night during the adjournment debate, Senator Ronaldson stated in his speech—and I quote from the Hansard:

I enjoy Senator Forshaw’s company, but he was almost apologising tonight for his trade union roots.

Senator McLucas interjected:

No, he wasn’t!

Senator Ronaldson then stated:

I was listening intently to him, and he was apologising for his trade union roots and saying—

and these words then appear as a direct quote:

‘We should not be bringing to the attention of the Australian people the fact that the ALP within 12 months will be totally dominated by the former ACTU leadership.’

At no stage did I utter the words that Senator Ronaldson claims I did. At no stage did I apologise for my trade union roots—indeed, in my speech I stated that we on this side of the chamber are proud of them.