Personal Explanation

Member's Remarks

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (12:27): By leave, I seek to make a personal explanation pursuant to standing order 108.

Leave granted.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are limited to what you can say, you understand that, if you have been misrepresented in some way.

Mr TEAGUE: Leave has just been granted.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is correct: leave has been granted. It is also not an opportunity to redebate the whole proposal. Member, the floor is yours.

Mr TEAGUE: Yes. In remarks just now, the substance and sentiments of which I largely wholly endorse, the minister made reference—and I would not otherwise bring up the particulars—to briefings that were afforded or otherwise to members on this side of the chamber. As far as I am concerned, it is important that I put on the record that the briefing that I was offered in my relevant portfolio capacity in relation to the plebiscite bill was a briefing that was provided to me and attended by me along with the member for Flinders and some staff. It was a briefing that I appreciate the opportunity to have been given.

It was at 3.30pm on Tuesday 6 September, earlier this week, and it afforded me at least that opportunity to engage in some dialogue in relation to the scope and purpose or otherwise of the plebiscite bill. It is important that I make clear on the record that at no time was the opportunity afforded, nor did I informally take it up, to engage in a dialogue or otherwise in relation to this bill, which is unsurprising because it is wholly outside my current shadow portfolio responsibilities. That is by way of further context to the remarks, providing general context to the way in which this bill has come before us today.