Mr GARRETT (Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) (4:15 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Mr GARRETT —Yes, I do.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr GARRETT —I refer to remarks by Senator Abetz and the member for Flinders alleging that I improperly disclosed market-sensitive information favouring private groups prior to my decision on 5 January to approve six and withhold three Gunns modules. I want to put on the record that my action in advising some stakeholders confidentially of decisions I made in relation to the Gunns pulp mill in the hour before I announced it publicly was in no way improper. I want to observe that it is the common practice of good governments who value transparency in decision making and effective communication with the public to directly and confidentially inform key stakeholders of imminent government decisions in which they have a particular interest, and—

Mr Pyne —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am sure you are going to bring the minister to a close, because he only needs to point out where he has been misrepresented, not debate the matter.

The SPEAKER —I understand that the minister is coming to a close.

Mr GARRETT —I am happy to oblige the Manager of Opposition Business, and I note that there was no significant drop in the price of Gunns shares prior to the public announcement of my decision on 5 January this year.