Dr MARTIN (4:34 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Dr MARTIN —Yes.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Dr MARTIN —In question time today both the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in responding to questions in respect of a decision taken by the United States with regard to steel tariffs and the US farm bill, which had negative impact on Australian producers and exporters, said that I had rejected the proposed FTA with the United States. Mr Speaker, that is not true. What I said and what the Minister for Foreign Affairs did not read out fully in his response was that Labor is not inclined to support the FDA if the United States government continues to take decisions adverse to Australia's trade interests. Mr Speaker, Labor will stand up for Australia's exporters even if the government will not.

The SPEAKER —The member for Cunningham has indicated that he has been misrepresented.

Sitting suspended from 4.35 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.