Member conduct
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer had a clear conflict of interest as a decision-maker in approving the opening of a Commonwealth Bank account worth up to $10 billion for the Victorian Future Fund at the same time as he held $100,000 worth of Commonwealth Bank shares. How many more decisions has the Assistant Treasurer made while having a clear conflict of interest?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:34): The only thing surprising about this question is that you are asking it, mate. I could have sworn you would end up there on the back bench with the member for Richmond after your performance last week.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I would ask you to bring the minister back to this very important issue, another issue of integrity.
The SPEAKER: The Assistant Treasurer to come back to the question that was asked.
Danny PEARSON: Thank you, Speaker. Well, I have always declared my interests. I have always acted appropriately. I refer the Leader of the Opposition to comments I have previously made. What I would say to the Leader of the Opposition is that the Future Fund –
John Pesutto interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition!
Danny PEARSON: The Future Fund wrote to the Department of Treasury and Finance seeking to open not one but three bank accounts with the three banks on the central panel. That request was approved by the Department of Treasury and Finance, and that was endorsed.
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): Pathetic. The Assistant Treasurer has now been found to have an active conflict of interest hanging over at least eight different decisions he has made as a government minister. The Assistant Treasurer is a serial offender. He has repeatedly failed to understand his responsibility to Victorians under the ministerial code of conduct. Will the Assistant Treasurer now finally do the right thing and present his resignation to the Premier?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:36): What a ridiculous question from the Leader of the Opposition. The answer is no.