Mr DOWNER (Leader of the Opposition) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Mr SPEAKER —Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Mr DOWNER —I do, most grievously.

Mr SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr DOWNER —During question time, the Minister for Communications and the Arts (Mr Lee) stated `the honourable member opposite'—referring to me—`says that he does not believe an event such as Anzac Day is an event of national importance or of national cultural significance'. He went on to say a little later, `He said'—that is me—`Anzac'—and that is presumably Anzac Day—`was not part of Australia's culture'.

  Mr Speaker, as the son of a man who spent 3 1/2 years in the Japanese Changi prisoner-of-war camp, I bitterly resent that remark. To suggest that I do not think Anzac Day is anything but one of the most fundamentally important days to this country is totally false. In my interjection, which related to pay television, I referred to the `arts', which was the word I used. Under the Labor Party's pay TV proposals, people who wish to view the arts will in future have to pay for them.

Mr SPEAKER —I think you have now moved beyond your personal explanation.

Mr DOWNER —That is the point, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER —You have made your personal explanation.

  Opposition members—Withdraw! Withdraw!