Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is the Premier. Last week the Minister for Planning apologised to Labor Party MPs for inaccurately telling the media that she had referred a 2020 email about CFMEU intimidation and thuggery to the Fair Work ombudsman. In reality she had not made that referral. When the Premier learned the allegations had not been referred, what action did she take?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:12): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because it gives me an opportunity to remind the Leader of the Opposition what I and others said about this matter last week when this matter was raised. There was an email that was sent – I think it was 28 March 2020 – to all members of Parliament at that time. Every member of Parliament received this email, I am advised, at that point in time. The advice I have is that the Minister for Planning, who was then in her role as the member for Carrum – there was a matter that referred to a company in her electorate that was in dispute with its employee representative. That matter was referred to the Minister for Industrial Relations, who subsequently referred that to the Fair Work Commission as appropriate. As I have said on a number of occasions, when allegations have been raised they have been referred to the relevant and appropriate agency for their response. In this instance it was the Fair Work Commission, given the federal government through the Fair Work Commission wield the industrial relations powers in this state. I am further advised that this matter went to the Federal Court and has been through a Federal Court process in terms of the dispute between –

John Pesutto: On a point of order under sessional order 11, the question, Speaker, related to public statements made by the Minister for Planning that were a lie. They were not true. What action did the Premier take in relation to that misleading comment which the Minister for Planning made?

The SPEAKER: Order! I counsel the Leader of the Opposition not to use that language in the house. And on the second part of the point of order, the Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: I can confirm that the Minister for Industrial Relations responded in May of 2020 to that March 2020 email. Further, I note that this matter went before the Federal Court. It involved a dispute between the company and its employee representative, and I note that the Federal Court found in favour of the employee representative.

John Pesutto: On a point of order under sessional order 11 again, Speaker, the wording of this sessional order, which this government introduced, is that answers be direct, factual, succinct and relevant. At no stage in this answer has the Premier addressed the question in a direct, factual, succinct or, I would argue, relevant manner. If this sessional order is to mean anything, you must enforce it, with respect, Speaker. The Premier continues to dodge legitimate and fair questions about what she knew, when she knew it and what she did about it.

The SPEAKER: I have advised the house on numerous occasions that I cannot direct the Premier or ministers how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, for clarity, there are previous rulings that this house has abided by for decades that a minister must address the actual substance of the question. If a question is asked, it is entirely inappropriate for a minister to simply pick a word out of the question and speak to that word for 3 minutes. It makes a mockery of the entire concept of question time.

The SPEAKER: I will rule on the point of order once again. Relevance can be interpreted in many ways. I have been listening to the Premier’s answer, and I believe that she has been relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: I appreciate the opportunity to continue to answer the question, as the Leader of the Opposition took a point of order whilst I was answering the question. In terms of the action I took, I sought some advice on what action was taken at the time. The advice I received was that the Minister for Industrial Relations responded on behalf of the government in May of 2020, and I have also given the house the advice I have on the conclusion of how the Federal Court found against the company in this matter.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): Shocking revelations about the CFMEU emerged 20 days ago – ample time for the Premier to speak with her ministers. How many ministers have had serious allegations relating to CFMEU intimidation and thuggery raised with them?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:17): As I have said previously in the house and on a number of other occasions, where allegations have been raised, allegations have been referred to the relevant agencies for their action.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier did not even address the question, with respect. We asked how many ministers have had allegations raised with them – a very, very simple question. The Premier did not even go to the substance of the question. This is a joke, and the Premier and the government are avoiding answering these important questions about corruption that is occurring on government worksites. I understand why they are avoiding the question, but they clearly are avoiding the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.