Mr CAUSLEY (3:20 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Mr CAUSLEY —I do.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr CAUSLEY —On Thursday, 18 November, the last sitting of this parliament, the Sydney Morning Herald published a story with the banner headline `Deputy PM named as bribe row flares'. Accompanying that story was a large photograph of me talking to the member for New England and the Deputy Prime Minister was walking past. That photograph must have been taken on Wednesday, 17 November, at about two or three minutes to two, because that was the only time that I spoke to the member for New England. The photograph had on it a caption that read, `Whatever it takes'.

The member for New England made a statement to this House at 7.30. So to tie the photograph and the story together is a breach of the rules as laid down by the Speaker. The cut-and-paste fabrication of the story for sensational effect, with a conspiratorial reference, I believe must breach any journalistic ethics as well.