MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Mr TAYLOR (Hume—Leader of the Opposition) (15:26): Deputy Speaker Claydon, I wish to make a personal explanation. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented? Go straight to the matter of misrepresentation.
Mr TAYLOR: The Minister for Social Services sought to misrepresent the coalition's commitment to restrict welfare to Australian citizens only, during question time. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it to you personally? It's got to be your personal—can you just repeat that?
Mr TAYLOR: The Minister for Social Services sought to misrepresent the coalition's commitment to restrict— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No. It's got to be you. Mr TAYLOR: She sought to misrepresent my position on our commitment to restrict welfare to Australian citizens only.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No. This is a policy matter that you're debating— Mr TAYLOR: She misrepresented me during question time. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I don't believe this is a misrepresentation of you as a person.
Mr TAYLOR: It was absolutely a misrepresentation. She misrepresented my position. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: You did not read something about your position.
You just read to me 'misrepresenting the opposition'. Mr TAYLOR: It was my position. She misrepresented me.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Go straight to that point please. Mr TAYLOR: The minister sought to misrepresent my commitment to restrict welfare to Australian citizens only. Under my plan, access to 17 welfare benefits, as well as— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Don't go into the argument.
You've claimed to be misrepresented on that point. I've heard that now. Mr TAYLOR: I haven't actually had a chance to explain it, Deputy Speaker Claydon.
Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Would you all like to have a say about this? You're not actually helping your leader at the moment. Ms Kearney: A bit of respect.
Mr TAYLOR: A bit of respect would be good. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are you suggesting I'm not respecting your position? Mr TAYLOR: I was talking to the member opposite.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let's get back to your personal explanation and do away with all the commentary from everybody else. That would be very helpful. Mr TAYLOR: If I may state the position and why it was a misrepresentation, it was a misrepresentation because, under the coalition's plan, my plan, access to 17 welfare benefits as well as future eligibility for the NDIS will be limited to Australian citizens from 1 July 2018 but existing recipients are grandfathered.
We're not going to take away any welfare entitlements for someone who is already here. This is about sending a message to future migrants. Don't come to Australia if you want to be on welfare.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The point is made now; you've absolutely made the point. That personal explanation was on indulgence. We are now going back to the business before the House, the matter of public importance.