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Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Page: 6331

Mr RAMSEY (3:32 PM) —Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Mr RAMSEY —Yes.

The SPEAKER —Please proceed.

Mr RAMSEY —I refer to the Leader of the House yesterday at the close of question time, when he referred to me:

The problem is that when people selectively quote and take small parts of quotes they do not give the meaning. What I actually said—

Mr Albanese —Under the standing orders, a personal explanation must be raised at the first possible opportunity. The member for Grey is referring to question time yesterday, not today, and therefore this by definition is not the first possible opportunity.

The SPEAKER —Under the assumption that this is the earliest time, having consulted the Hansard record, I will allow the member for Grey to proceed, but he will make his—

Ms Macklin —Harry, too soft!

The SPEAKER —Very soft and generous. The member for Grey has the call.

Mr RAMSEY —I appreciate your call, Mr Speaker. It is the first opportunity I have had. What I did say was: ‘I’ll attend the opening of any infrastructure programs. We’re going to get our share of the debt. We should get our share of these projects.’