Personal Explanation

SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (15:10): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

Mr PENGILLY: This morning on social media, I put on a comment which was a poor use of terminology. I acknowledge that. The simple message I was trying to get across was that, in my view, the current Prime Minister is the worst prime minister in Australia's history. However—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: It is not open to any member to use a personal explanation to make a speech. If the member claims to have been misrepresented, he needs to make a factual statement about that. It is not open to him to make a speech about what he has done.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PENGILLY: Anyone who knows me knows that I do not abuse women, hit them or anything else. Quite frankly, for the record—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: the member needs to explain to the house where he is being misrepresented and give a factual explanation. It is not open to him to justify at length what everyone knows was disgraceful.

The SPEAKER: I uphold that point of order. You need to be very careful.

Mr PENGILLY: I am nearly finished. If my comments have caused offence to the Prime Minister, I apologise to her; however, there is not much more I can do about the house. It was unfortunate, but that is the way things are.