Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Government performance

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Today the Auditor-General handed down a report on the joint venture in relation to bridge monitoring. VAGO found that the government torched over $20 million without any due diligence, independent evidence or oversight of spending. The minister responsible for this debacle was the Premier as Minister for Transport Infrastructure. What benefit did Victoria obtain from the more than $20 million wasted on this project?

Danny Pearson: On a point of order, Speaker, I think the question should be directed to me as the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The Leader of the Opposition knows full well that he cannot ask questions of ministers about their former portfolios.

James Newbury: On the point of order, Speaker, the question related to government business. The Premier is responsible for all government business, and I would put to you that the question is entirely in order.

The SPEAKER: The question is in order.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and the government does acknowledge the Auditor-General has handed the report to the Parliament today. We thank the Auditor-General for their work. I note that there are no recommendations that are made in the report to either the government –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! If members want to hear the answer, I ask them to come to order.

Jacinta ALLAN: There were, as I said, no recommendations made to the department or to the government, so on that basis I wanted that to be very clear in case the Leader of the Opposition had missed that part of the report. In relation to the findings that relate to the Department of Transport and Planning I am advised that the department has acknowledged the findings of that report. It is also important to note that, as I understand, the report –

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, I ask that you bring the Premier back to the question, which is: what benefit did Victoria get from this $20 million of wasted money?

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask members not to repeat the question in a point of order. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was about to say, when it did become clear, as I believe the Department of Transport and Planning has advised in the report, that the investment was not delivering as expected, the decision was made to discontinue the project, as is appropriate. In terms of how we work across the state to support our road network looking at technological –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nepean can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Member for Nepean withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: He can go and put the kettle on for the event down at Rye next week. He is getting ready for lunch.

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier, through the Chair.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I would ask you to bring the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Premier to come back to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: In terms of how we maintain and operate the road network, it is appropriate to look at technological advances. In this instance, the decision was made to discontinue the project when this was not a project that was going to provide those opportunities.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Industry figures and peak bodies raised serious concerns with the government about the joint venture. Why did the Premier, as minister responsible, ignore that expert advice?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): As I said in my previous answer, when it became clear that the project was not going to deliver as expected it was not continued with and that involved assessment as was undertaken from advice from the Department of Transport and Planning, as is appropriate as you work through these decisions.