Ms JULIE BISHOP (3:24 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Ms JULIE BISHOP —Yes.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Ms JULIE BISHOP —In an article published in today's Bulletin magazine, Mr Laurie Oakes makes comment on the participation of Australian observers in the Commonwealth observer group in Zimbabwe, based on comments by the member for Griffith. As a member of that Observer Group, I claim to have been misrepresented in that it is suggested that, compared to the member for Griffith, I did not play my part in the negotiations that produced the Commonwealth observer report. That is not true. It is claimed that I left Harare before the observer group had drafted the bulk of the final report. That is not true. It is suggested that the member for Griffith had to carry the workload of the other Australian observers because I and the others had failed to do so. To use such an important, independent, international observer mission for shameless self-promotion on the part of the member for Griffith is regrettable.

The SPEAKER —The member for Curtin cannot advance an argument. She can indicate where she has been misrepresented; she cannot advance an argument. The member for Curtin will resume her seat.