Thursday, 23 February 2023

Member conduct

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs. Was the business licensing board shifted out of the consumer affairs portfolio solely so that a member of the minister’s immediate family could save their job as chair?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:14): I have already answered this question. I refer the Leader of the Opposition to my previous answer.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): The chair of the business licensing board is paid up to $53,254 a year. Was the financial benefit of this role to the minister’s family income a factor in the decision to shift responsibility for this board for the first time ever?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:15): If the Leader of the Opposition had any courage at all, he would ask the question about the general order to the Premier. I refer the Leader of the Opposition to my previous answer.