Amended Answers to Oral Questions — Question No. 2 to Minister, 1 May

I seek leave to make a personal explanation in order to correct an answer I gave to a supplementary oral question asked by David Shearer in the House yesterday.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.

Last night David Shearer came to the House to correct the record in relation to a supplementary question he had asked during question time yesterday afternoon. He admitted that he had wrongly attributed a statement to me, when in fact it had been made by another person. It was not my intention to mislead the House when I said I stood by that statement. I assumed that Mr Shearer had his facts right when he asked me whether I stood by a particular statement. I apologise to the House for making that assumption. I will not make that assumption again. [Interruption]

Order! I just want to make it very clear, because I do not want that to happen again, that when the House gives a member leave to make a personal explanation, the House is extending a courtesy to the member in allowing that. In making a personal explanation, no member may make any remark about another member. So I caution the Prime Minister that that was unacceptable. I do not want to see it happen again, from any member. I make that very clear to all members in the House. It is a courtesy when leave is granted to make a personal explanation, and such a personal explanation must make no comment about any other member, at all.