Wednesday, 19 June 2024

John Setka

Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Ports and Freight. Federal Court Judge Geoffrey Flick found in 2017 that the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union repeatedly sought to place itself above the law. Should all employees and organisations that operate at Victoria’s port obey the law?

Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:39): Speaker, if I can seek your indulgence before answering the member for South-West Coast’s question, can I just shout out to the three young men from Williamstown electorate who are in the gallery today doing work experience. But I do feel – and I love a question about ports and freight – a little bit like I am in a Seinfeld episode where –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Point Cook can leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Point Cook withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: All these comparisons with TV shows are kind of getting to me.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, we have given the minister more than enough time. Can she address the question about whether employees should obey the law?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Environment! The Minister for Ports and Freight will come back to the question that was asked.

Melissa HORNE: As you can appreciate, we work in a highly industrialised place down on the ports, and of course we work very closely with the Port of Melbourne Authority but also with our union comrades down there.

Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:41): Given John Setka’s criminal conviction, will the minister take steps to ban the thuggish union boss and friend of the Premier from Victoria’s ports?

Jacinta Allan: On a point of order, Speaker, this is an egregious disregard for the standing orders and the requirement for questions to bear some resemblance to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities. I ask that you rule the supplementary question out of order.

John Pesutto: On the point of order, Speaker, the question is within order. The minister, despite appearances, is the minister for ports. This is about whether a thuggish union leader, who is a friend of this government and is enabled by this government, is to be banned from ports.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Police will come to order. I remind members that a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The minister can answer the question as it relates to her portfolio and government business.

Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:42): If I can explain the way that our ports operate, firstly, we have got the Port of Melbourne Corporation, which is down there operating the Port of Melbourne. We then have a number of stevedores that operate. They are private companies. They have agreements with the MUA, which is actually there with their workforce, and they do that wharfside work. There are then a number of other providers down there. This is not about the CFMEU.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the minister was asked whether she would ban John Setka from the ports.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question.

Melissa HORNE: In conclusion, it is clearly apparent that the member for South-West Coast completely does not understand the way the Victorian port system operates.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Eildon can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Cindy McLeish interjected.

The SPEAKER: Make that an hour.

Member for Eildon withdrew from chamber.