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Bill Shorten edits transcript after Tasmania ‘Circular Quay’ gaffe

LABOR has again been caught altering an official transcript after Bill Shorten confused a well-known Tasmanian area with an iconic Sydney harbour.

Shorten's Circular Quay gaffe

LABOR has again been caught altering an official transcript after Bill Shorten confused a well-known Tasmanian area with a Sydney harbour.

During a speech in Devonport for the campaign launch of the Braddon by-election, Mr Shorten referred to “Circular Quay” instead of “Circular Head”.

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Stanley Nut in Tasmania’s Circular Head region. Picture: Circular Head Tourism Association
Stanley Nut in Tasmania’s Circular Head region. Picture: Circular Head Tourism Association
… which is quite different to Circular Quay in Sydney.
… which is quite different to Circular Quay in Sydney.

The sentence was then edited in the official transcript his office sent to media outlets today.

“And because our candidate knows this community so intimately, and because she listens to locals as Labor has, we’ve got plans to improve the local infrastructure, upgrading the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Circular Quay,” Mr Shorten said during the speech.

The transcript was edited to read: “Upgrading the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Circular Head”.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s Tasmania gaffe was edited out of his official transcript.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s Tasmania gaffe was edited out of his official transcript.

But a Labor spokeswoman tonight said: “The fact that the Liberals think this is more important than health, infrastructure and jobs shows you exactly how out of touch they are.

“The Liberals should spend less time obsessing about us and more time reversing their cuts to health and hospitals.”

It comes after Labor came under criticism in May when a transcript of a television interview with MP Linda Burney was heavily edited.

She said at the time it was “unintentional” and her office was solely responsible.

Shorten, Turnbull launch Braddon by-election campaigns

Originally published as Bill Shorten edits transcript after Tasmania ‘Circular Quay’ gaffe

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/bill-shorten-edits-transcript-after-tasmania-circular-quay-gaffe/news-story/1d3a4a6655e9cad36421ed7f128ea0ae