Mr ALBANESE (Leader of the House) (3:31 PM) —Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —And that is within his rights. I am not sure what was released into the atmosphere after question time, but it has certainly changed the mood of the House. Does the Leader of the House claim to have been misrepresented?

Mr ALBANESE —Yes. The Manager of Opposition Business, in his abuse of parliamentary processes by putting forward a question, attempted to put on the record an interjection that I did not make.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! Whilst I was happy to have an early mark, I am going to be patient. I do not understand why these matters cannot be settled quietly. The Leader of the House has the call.

Mr ALBANESE —Mr Speaker, the interjection that I made across the chamber was, ‘This was a rescue at sea,’ and it was heard by those here. That was my interjection. The abuse of process and the failure of the Leader of the Opposition or the Manager of Opposition Business to have the courage to raise it with me is an outrage.

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the House will resume his seat. He has resumed his seat. Is the member for Sturt seeking the call?

Mr Pyne —I simply make the point, Mr Speaker, that he is not allowed to debate the matter of a personal explanation.

The SPEAKER —He has been told to sit down. I warn the member for Sturt, and the basis of the warning is that, repeatedly, when he has a point of order he makes the point of order and then continues to prattle on.

Mr Pearce interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Aston should go back to his contemplation of future endeavours. It is a friendly reminder that he has been very well behaved, and I was surprised.