Mr KELVIN THOMSON (3:30 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Mr KELVIN THOMSON —Yes.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr KELVIN THOMSON —During question time the Deputy Prime Minister claimed that I have said that no Regional Partnerships project should go ahead. This is not true. He also cited my support for a Regional Partnerships application in my electorate as evidence of hypocrisy. The fact is that I was recently approached by the Northern Area Consultative Committee and asked to write in support of an electrotechnology centre at Northland Secondary College in Melbourne’s north-west. The Northern Area Consultative Committee indicated to me that this request had been in turn made to them by the government.

The SPEAKER —Order! The member has to show where he has been misrepresented.

Mr KELVIN THOMSON —Yes, Mr Speaker. This is quite inappropriate politicisation of the process. I wrote in support of the centre. The bias against Labor electorates is bad enough without me not supporting projects in my electorate.

The SPEAKER —The member will resume his seat.