Transport infrastructure projects
David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Mawson International has been stood down from Victorian rail projects following reports of corrupt ghost shifts. When was the minister first notified of this alleged illegal activity?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:27): I thank the member for his question, and the answer is late last week.
David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:27): What action has the minister taken to ensure there is no further illegal activity on projects that she is responsible for?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:28): I think there are some assumptions in that question that are worth going back a step on. As the member’s substantive question went to, there were reports last week of matters across a range of rail sites across the state. Those matters are under active investigation, and of course we need to allow those active investigations to come to their conclusion, lest we cut across any other referrals that may need to be made to relevant agencies for further action and follow-up. But I did also want to make the point –
David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, I ask if you could bring the minister back to answering the question. These illegal activities happened under the minister’s watch, and I ask you to bring her back to answering the question. These are very serious illegal activities, and the minister needs to tell us what action she has done to ensure –
The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.
Jacinta ALLAN: As you indicated, I was directly answering the question that was raised by the member opposite. I appreciate he may want to make a theatrical scene about this. I am more focused on allowing the relevant agencies to do their work. We note that Metro Trains have taken action in terms of their role with this third-party supplier, and we await the outcome of the investigations.