Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his remarks and his good-natured and professional cooperation on these issues, and also for his support on the matters I have announced. Mr Deputy Speaker, I wonder whether I could ask the indulgence of the House to make a personal explanation.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the minister claim to have been misrepresented ?

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. I have been very badly misrepresented in today's Financial Review in the story on page 1, entitled 'Gillard bows to US on submarines'. Firstly, the story is wrong. It is frankly a nonsense. There has been no pressure on Australia from the United States or any country about these issues. The story is a fabrication. At the end of the story it says:

A spokesman for Mr Smith declined to comment.

No approach was made to my office or to me by the newspaper or the journalist concerned about these issues in respect of which there is a very serious misrepresentation. The story is wrong. It is a nonsense.