Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President. I want to conclude my remarks this way: there is no doubt in my mind that whatever Mr Slipper said on that satellite phone on that day led to the cancellation of the proposed boarding. I sought to clear this up because I believed that it not only impugned me and my other parliamentary colleagues but also put at risk the safety of those brave men and women of our Defence Force on HMAS Stuart.