Mr RUDDOCK (Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation) (5:04 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Mr RUDDOCK —Yes.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr RUDDOCK —The Leader of the Opposition suggested that I had accepted oral advice on the morning of 7 October but that I would not accept any other advice unless it was in writing. Any fair reading of the transcript of the Sunrise program last Sunday would not suggest that view—in fact, it was quite the contrary. The fact is that the situation in the afternoon—

Mr RUDDOCK —It is a misrepresentation to suggest—

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition! The minister cannot advance an argument. He must indicate where he has been misrepresented. I will allow him to do just that.

Mr RUDDOCK —It is a misrepresentation to suggest that I would not accept any other advice unless it was in writing. As I made clear on that occasion, the only advice that was available in the afternoon was oral advice.

The SPEAKER —The minister has indicated where he was misrepresented.

Mr RUDDOCK —It is was just the same in the afternoon as it was in the morning!

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition must understand that when I am on my feet—

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —And the same admonition applies to the minister, when I can complete my sentence without assistance from members such as the member for Lyons and the member for Chifley.