Thursday, 1 August 2024

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. The Premier has said in this place that government infrastructure projects in Victoria ‘cost what they cost’. Is the $40 billion in cost blowouts on taxpayer-funded projects because the Premier enabled CFMEU thuggery, corruption and criminal behaviour to fester for the last 10 years?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:17): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and the opportunity to remind the house of the significance of the transport infrastructure pipeline that we have in this state that is building vital transport connections. Whether it is in regional Victoria with road and rail, in the suburbs removing level crossings or building the West Gate Tunnel, the North East Link or the Metro Tunnel, we are getting on and delivering our significant pipeline of transport infrastructure projects.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mildura is warned.

Jacinta ALLAN: The investment that we make in these projects of course is outlined on an annual basis in the budget and in the midyear budget update.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58, this answer could not be any more clearly the Premier not directly responding to the issue raised in the question. The question related to integrity and corruption that is occurring on government worksites – corruption on government worksites – and the Premier is reading a media release, which does not in any way relate to –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: well, you certainly could write it then – instead of responding to the substance of the question. This is very frustrating for Victorians.

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business knows that is not the way to raise a point of order. There is no point of order. The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: Before the member took the point of order, I was outlining to the house how the investment that our government has made in this significant transport infrastructure pipeline is outlined on an annual basis in the budget and updated half-annually in the midyear budget update, and that information is provided transparently. And, you know what, Speaker –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: I have been asked about costs and I am giving you the details.

Peter Walsh: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. This goes to the nub of why there is $40 billion worth of cost blowouts on major projects here in Victoria, particularly because of the thuggery, corruption and criminal behaviour of the CFMEU, which has been empowered by the Labor government here in Victoria.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Nationals, that is not the appropriate way to raise a point of order. The Premier was being relevant to the question. The preamble forms part of the question, and the Premier was being relevant.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Leader of the Nationals raised a point of order on the Premier debating the question. It was not on relevance, it was on debating the question, and that is what the Premier is doing – debating the question to avoid answering the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was not debating the question; the Premier was continuing with her answer.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was in the process of going to how we detail the investments we make in these projects. If you review the budget papers, the vast majority of our significant transport infrastructure pipeline is on time and on budget.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Polwarth is warned.

Jacinta ALLAN: Where there have been from time to time projects that have had some challenges, that have needed additional investment –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I am not sure that I can take the point of order, because I was not able to hear the Premier responding, but I will take the point of order.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58, the Premier is required to be factual. The Premier just said that projects were delivered on time and on budget, and we know that is not factual.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was going on to say that where we have challenges with particular projects, projects that have been –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: The reason why it is so vitally important that we get on with these investments, that we get on with these projects, is not only that there are tens of thousands of workers who rely on these projects, who rely on this pipeline, who rely on the dignity of a pay packet going home at the end of every week to support their families; their families also deserve better transport connections. That is why we are investing in these projects. The Treasurer and I have raised on a number of occasions since budget that there are certainly cost pressures on infrastructure projects around the country and around the world. There are pressures around workforce supply and availability of materials. These are well documented, well discussed –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mordialloc is warned.

James Newbury: On a point of order on relevance, Speaker, I seek your guidance. We are now 2½ ‍minutes into a 3-minute question relating to the CFMEU. The Premier has not yet raised the CFMEU. Is it relevant?

The SPEAKER: The Premier was referring to costs and government infrastructure projects. She was relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: That is why we will continue to support these projects. We will work through the challenges that are experienced by projects around the country and around the world, because Victorians need these better transport connections to get home safer and sooner and to have an equality of opportunity to participate in our community.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Over the last 10 years, how many times was the Premier warned about the CFMEU’s thuggery, corruption and criminal behaviour?

The SPEAKER: I ask the Leader of the Opposition to rephrase his question so it relates to government business.

John PESUTTO: Over the last 10 years, how many times was the Premier warned about the CFMEU’s thuggery, corruption and criminal behaviour on taxpayer-funded major projects?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:24): As I have said on a number of occasions, where allegations were raised with me, they were referred to the relevant authority.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 58, this cannot stand. The Premier is not responding to the question. The question was very simple – how many times – both today and yesterday, and I put to you, Speaker, that question time has become a joke. It is a joke. It is not unreasonable for the Premier to answer the question.

The SPEAKER: That is not the way to raise a point of order.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, I ask that you rule that point of order out of order. There is no point of order. Standing order 58 is very clear. All answers to questions must be direct, factual and succinct, and that is exactly what the Premier has delivered. I also remind the house that Speakers’ rulings on this matter are very, very clear. Ministers have discretion to determine the content of any answer.

The SPEAKER: I repeat my previous rulings that I cannot direct the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked. The Premier has concluded her answer.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58, we have now asked a total of 24 questions – very simple, tight questions.

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

John Pesutto: Speaker, with respect, we understand your role. This is not directed at the Chair. But we will not accept a government that is covering up corruption. We will not accept a government that does not answer questions. We have asked 24 simple questions and not got one answer. We will not stand for it. I ask my colleagues: let us show that this question time is pointless. There is no point to question time.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will come to order. Just for clarification, the Leader of the Opposition’s point of order is out of order.