Wednesday, 4 October 2023

Commonwealth Games

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. On 21 June the Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy Harriet Shing told Parliament:

… commitments that we have made will deliver around 7500 jobs before, during and after the Commonwealth Games.

Given that the government was already taking steps to scrap the Commonwealth Games, why did the government mislead Victorians by continuing to promote the games?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:23): Again, in the weeks leading up to the decision that the government announced on 18 July that $6 billion, heading towards $7 billion, for a 12-day sporting event was too much, and when you consider that the key reasons why we agreed to host the games in the first place were those legacy opportunities to invest in housing in regional Victoria, in community sport and in tourism and major events – that decision was taken, and that decision had bipartisan support from the opposition.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Minister Shing also stated on 21 June that the Commonwealth Games:

… will enable our regions, our regional hubs and our rural communities to shine on the world stage.

Will the Premier apologise for Minister Shing’s statements, which deliberately misled Parliament and deceived regional Victorians?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Can I ask the Leader of the Opposition to rephrase his question.

John PESUTTO: Certainly. From the top, Speaker?

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition knows that you cannot suggest someone is deliberately misleading the house. I ask you to rephrase the question, please.

John PESUTTO: Okay. Will the Premier apologise for Minister Shing’s statements that misled Parliament and deceived regional Victorians?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:25): The only deceit that is being performed here is by the Leader of the Opposition, who is trying to pretend that what he said in the past is that he would do something different, and he would not have. The Leader of the Opposition has supported the decision that has been taken. He said he would take due diligence to make the decision, and to pretend any different is to perpetrate a deceit on Victorians.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much noise in the chamber. Members will now be removed without warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier knows that it is not relevant to attack the opposition. I would ask you to bring the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.