Mr NAIRN (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) (3:30 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

The SPEAKER —Does the parliamentary secretary claim to have been misrepresented?

Mr NAIRN —Yes, I do.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr NAIRN —On 16 November this year during an interview on Canberra Radio 2CC, the ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, launched a very personal attack on me regarding the new Defence operational headquarters to be built between Queanbeyan and Bungendore. As part of that attack, he claimed I deliberately issued a press release about his prison on the very day that financial advisors to the Australian government announced they were not continuing in that role, and he said I refused to defend the headquarters project.

Mr Speaker, I did media interviews with ABC TV, WIN TV and ABC Radio on the Defence headquarters. Also, my press release was not issued on the same day as that announcement, but it was released the day after Mr Stanhope’s development application for his jail was finally lodged. It was lodged in secret, so I had a responsibility to let my constituents know so that they could object, as Mr Stanhope had not consulted with those residents of Jerrabomberra and Letchworth who will be most affected by his jail.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member still has the call. I am listening carefully.

Mr Tanner —Which state is Jerrabomberra in?

Mr NAIRN —In New South Wales. Also, Mr Stanhope claimed the Defence headquarters would now be half as big as I promised before the last election. The project was $300 million before the last election and it is still $300 million—

Mr Bevis —And how many staff?

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Brisbane!

Mr Bevis —Well, he’s not telling the truth.

Mr NAIRN —and it will be going ahead at the chosen site outside Queanbeyan. Would you like to come up and withdraw that—saying I am not telling the truth?

The SPEAKER —Does the parliamentary secretary wish to raise a point of order?

Mr NAIRN —He is just one of Stanhope’s flunkies, that is all.