Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Business of the house
Program
Business of the house
Program
That, under standing order 94(2), the orders of the day, government business, relating to the following bills be considered and completed by 5 pm on 14 November 2024:
Aged Care Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision-maker Bill 2024
State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024
Statute Law Repeals Bill 2024
Tobacco Amendment (Tobacco Retailer and Wholesaler Licensing Scheme) Bill 2024.
In this second-last sitting week of the Parliament it is a real pleasure to be here with such an important government business program before us. We have just had a bit of a display from those opposite – a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing – in relation to us bringing on this tobacco bill and moving to the second reading this week. This is an important bill, and it is indicative of our government’s approach that we take the time to make sure that when we are introducing legislation such as this, we get it right. That means doing the work. It means consulting with stakeholders, it means examining practices elsewhere and it means benchmarking ourselves against what happens in other jurisdictions.
It is not a matter of writing a press release and standing up and doing something for the media. It is actually about hard work when you are looking to do something such as introducing the Tobacco Amendment (Tobacco Retailer and Wholesaler Licensing Scheme) Bill 2024. Of course we made this commitment earlier in the year, and we are really pleased, with this bill now before the house, to be getting on and implementing the commitment. We do want to move to see a quick implementation. We know that this is important legislation to the community, which is why we have taken the time, as I said, to design it and make sure that it is right. It will be implementing the toughest penalties in the country for the illegal tobacco trade and the criminals who profit from it. The bill will create a strict new licensing scheme, putting more boots on the ground and providing more powers to crack down on illicit tobacco and organised crime, with massive consequences for those who choose to break the law.
Also on the government business program is the Aged Care Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision-maker Bill 2024. This bill is before the house in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Commonwealth government introduced new requirements for restrictive practices to be used only with the informed consent of the aged care recipient. For aged care residents who do not or may not have capacity to make decisions, such as in cases of advanced dementia, a substitute decision-maker can provide this consent. Unlike other jurisdictions, Victoria does not have legislation that explicitly authorises substitute decision-makers, and therefore this bill is necessary in order to deliver this. I am sure that we would all agree in this place that the care and safety of our older residents, senior Victorians, is something that we all feel very strongly about. We are also quite appalled by some of the evidence that we saw come out of the royal commission into the delivery of aged care in this nation. I am really proud to be a minister in this government, which still runs a very strong public aged care system, one of the few jurisdictions that does that, and it is renowned for the quality of care that is delivered, I might say, by hardworking healthcare workers, who are committed to delivering care that treats our older Victorians with the dignity and respect that they deserve. It is a very important bill that will be debated in this place, and I am sure there will be many people that want to speak on that to ensure that residents are, as I said, treated with care, dignity and respect and that they have a choice in who they want to act as a substitute decision-maker.
We will also be discussing the State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024. This bill fulfils a commitment made by our government to provide exemption from payroll tax for payments to contractor GPs and to employee GPs for the provision of bulk-billed consultations from 1 July 2025. We know, after almost a decade of neglect from the federal Liberal–National party government, that GPs have been under acute pressure. Our government is doing its bit to support the delivery of primary care in this state, because we have had to step in to support a broken system, one that was torn apart by the Morrison–Dutton government. I commend this government business program to the house.
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (12:54): As I look at the government business program that the Leader of the House has just moved and the one listed on the daily program produced by the Parliament, they are different. What a mess. This government has proven time and time again that they are losing control of the Parliament and that they do not, frankly, know what they are doing. We saw it at the end of last year with bill after bill shelved in the Council, not dealt with, because the government did not know what to do. They had introduced things and sought to move things through this place and the other place without consulting with the Parliament. Now we are seeing a mess in their organisation of this place.
As I said, we have a government business program listed on the Parliament’s daily program which is different to the motion that has been just moved in this place, so we cannot support a government business program that is a mess. It is a mess, and Victorians would expect more. They would expect more both in terms of the management and operation of this place but also in terms of the fair and reasonable management of proposed bills through this place. Governments should not be introducing bills and trying to push them through in a haphazard way because they have been caught out by the opposition, who have been trying to make meaningful changes on important issues as occurred last sitting week, two weeks ago. We saw it today. We saw a government find a bill and try to treat it as urgent this week, on an issue that the coalition has been pushing for action on for some time. This urgent bill has a 19-month delay where it will sit gathering dust. The coalition cannot support a government business program – which one is it? Is it the government business program –
James NEWBURY: The Leader of the House says it is the one that the Leader of the House read out, but the daily program which is available at the end of the table has three bills listed for this week. There is a fourth one that I understand the Leader of the House has read out – the tobacco bill – and we have said we want that bill debated, because it is an important issue. The fact that the government has so poorly managed this issue is a reflection on them, and as I said earlier, two firebombings have occurred in the last two weeks in Pascoe Vale.
I note that the government business program – I do not know if it was right or if it is still right anymore – that was sent out to non-government members suggested that there would be debate around the budget bills. I know for many weeks I have been trying to find an opportunity for the government to allow members of all sides to speak about the dud budget, which a third of the members of this chamber, roughly speaking, have not even spoken on. The notification that went out to members suggested that there would be time for that debate. There are so many members of this place who have not been able to talk about the fact that on our side of the chamber our communities are being ripped off again. But I suspect now that with four bills to debate this week – not that it is on the program that has been sent out by the Parliament – proposed for the government business program, that budget debate opportunity may not occur or would not occur in any meaningful way. And how can you be so ashamed of your own budget that a third of the members of this place are not given an opportunity to speak about it? That just shows you are trying to hide it, doesn’t it? You do not stop a third of your backbench being able to speak on something unless you are really, really embarrassed about the budget. I do note that that proposal was put out publicly that there would be meaningful debate on that, but I suspect now with four bills for debate this week that will not occur.
The coalition cannot support the mess of the government business program. I do not think the government knows what it is doing from day to day. Clearly that is not the case in that what we are seeing on the program provided by the Parliament and what the leader just said are completely different, so the coalition will not be supporting the program.
Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (12:59): How am I not surprised that the member for Brighton and the coalition are not supporting the government business program this week. I think time and time again, each and every single week, as few and far between as they are, those sitting in this chamber talk about not supporting the government business program. But there is no surprise, because over the past six years what I have learned in this place is that they barely make a contribution on any bill about anything before this house.
Sarah CONNOLLY: Member for Brighton, that may not be you. I do see that you do take, or try to take, your role a little bit more seriously. But if we continue this way in the lead-up to Christmas, member for Brighton, I would say, through the Chair, that you will soon become known on this side of the house as the Grinch, really, with that sort of dismal confected outrage that you constantly display here in this chamber.
But I am going to pivot to something really quickly if the house will indulge me. I am so excited because my daughter just quickly called me and said she is going to be school captain for year 9 next year, so I am going to kick off on a really positive note because I am feeling so great about this government business program this week and I am starting on a note that it has been really good news in the Connolly household. What is also really good news in the Connolly household is this government business program because I am looking forward to making a contribution this week on the Aged Care Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision-maker Bill 2024, which is going to put in place a clear hierarchy of decision-makers for approving restrictive practices importantly in aged care settings, acquitting an important recommendation of the aged care royal commission, something that is really important I know to folks who have got loved ones or do indeed find themselves in aged care facilities here in this state.
Really that is what we do on this side of the house: we are always introducing legislation and debating bills here in this place for one reason only, and that is because it matters to folks in our communities and, yes, looking across the chamber at members over there, in your communities too. They want to see these bills before the house and being debated. What we do say is that those opposite should get on board and should support the government business program and, most importantly – and I am looking at all the empty chairs over there – come into the chamber, be part of these debates, be part of these conversations. They are really important conversations. Time and time again we bring really important bills before this house – bills that are about making Victoria a much fairer and more equitable state and doing the right thing for all Victorians. Those opposite time and time again fail to contribute to these bills before the house. Why, I will never know, but I do say it is why they sit on that side of the chamber and we sit on this side of the chamber.
This week we have also got the Statute Law Repeals Bill 2024, which is going to repeal a number of redundant and spent provisions contained in our legislation to ensure Victorian legislation remains accurate and up to date. That is always really important because here on this side of the house we are introducing legislation and making legislative reform that does make significant changes here in this state. This does require us from time to time to introduce bills that make amendments to legislation to keep up with the laws and policy of these times, and that is also a really important part of being in government, particularly a government that gets on and does a whole lot of things for all Victorians across the state.
The State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024 is also going to legislate a clear payroll tax exemption for GPs, something that we did in fact commit to earlier this year, and it makes a number of other small changes – small but, like I said, important changes – around things like payroll tax on wage underpayments and land tax exemption on social and affordable housing providers.
Whilst a couple of these bills, some may say, would not be classified as major pieces of legislation, this work is important and it is also a key part of the work that we have to do here this week. Sometimes bills are introduced and there is work to do here in this chamber and indeed, like I talked about this morning, on committees – committee work – important work that needs to be done as part of being a member of Parliament. I would say to those opposite: you cannot spend your entire life here in Parliament being known as a blocker. Sometimes you need to get on board, participate, do your bit, speak on bills and turn up to committee hearings and committee inquiries. It is what you are paid for at the end of the day, and it is what those out on the streets in your electorate do expect. I wholeheartedly commend the government business program to the house.
Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (13:04): I rise to talk on the government business program. I stand not as a blocker but as an enabler, and I am here to enable a change of government in 2026 to the people on this side of the house. As the member for Laverton just spoke about before, I am passionate about being able to come into the chamber and talk on every bill that is put up. I am passionate about being able to be on committees and be a part of change that can happen inside the government, because that is what my constituents in the Latrobe Valley in the seat of Morwell have elected me to do – not to be shy and hide behind other people but to be at the forefront and to relay to the house on both sides of government the issues that are going on around regional Victoria but, more to the point, that are concerning the people of the Latrobe Valley.
When we look at what the government is putting up as its government business program, I would have been shocked and disappointed if the member for Brighton had got up and said that we were not opposing it, because it is a little bit all over the place. The member for Ovens Valley stood in this exact chamber last week and brought up issues with the tobacco laws and the firebombing of tobacco shops. It is good – and I note that we are not opposing this particular bill – that we are actually now getting some laws that are coming in to give our police and also the people of Victoria the confidence that something is going to happen. But why do we have to wait until 2026 for it to come in? Why can’t it be brought in next year if we are all in agreeance after we go through the amendments and what the law is going to be? Why can’t we debate it and then bring it in a little bit earlier?
The State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024 has a little bit of clean-up work in it. Anything that is going to repeal some tax bills and make it a little bit easier for people in Victoria and give them a break – I think I am happy to stand up and debate that every single day of the week, because people are doing it hard out there at the moment.
Also, on aged care, the Minister for Health spoke up before and championed the need to look after our ageing communities and talked about the changes that we can make here after the royal commission to put some things in place. I think that stands well right across inner-city Melbourne but regional Victoria as well, because as members of Parliament it is our job to make sure we are looking after our most vulnerable people, and the changes that we can make to make their lives and their journey better and safer is great also.
The one thing I do want to touch on, and the member for Brighton said it as well, is the take-note budget reply. I am one of the members on this side that has not had a chance to talk about that. I am getting a little bit concerned. I did a couple of little sums before. There are 175 days left until the next budget is dropped, so I have got 175 days when I may get a chance. If I break it down even further, that is only 15 sitting days including today, and the clock is ticking as we move through this. I am not hopeful today that I am going to get a chance to be able to stand up and respond on behalf of the people down in the Latrobe Valley on the budget about what little things we did get but more so what we did not get.
The government talk a big game in the budget, about how everything is nation-leading – everything they drop in here is nation-leading. Well, I beg to differ with the budget. That is why I am so keen to get up and talk. Housing down in the Latrobe Valley: fail. They have failed on that. Roads: they have failed. Everyone does not think that the roads at the moment are any good. Health down in our area: it has failed. I want to be able to get up and talk about this. Regional jobs: they have failed in that way too. They have taken away jobs in the timber community, in our white paper community. On the SEC, for goodness sake, they said, ‘We’re bringing back the SEC.’ Down in Morwell it has failed; one job one day a week – fail. Our recreational pastimes: we are failing on that. All this proves is that Labor cannot manage money and Victorians are paying the price.
Dylan WIGHT (Tarneit) (13:09): It is a pleasure to follow the chief enabler himself and his wideranging contribution on the government business program. But it is a real pleasure to stand this afternoon and speak in favour of the government business program this week. There seems to be some confusion from those opposite about the government business program. Yes, there were three pieces of legislation on there and, yes, now there are four, because there is an incredibly important piece of legislation which we must debate this week.
I am pleased to speak about the fact, and I spoke about it last sitting week in the government business program, that this is a government with a really strong legislative agenda. Despite the efforts of those opposite to block and to delay through procedural motions, through whatever other means and through opposing the government business program, as they always do, in the last 12 months this government has passed 43 pieces of legislation, each one as important as the next, because this is a government with an incredibly strong agenda.
This week, for example, we have got four incredibly important pieces of legislation that those on this side of the house are really, really keen to contribute to. There has been some commentary about the lack of contribution by some of those opposite, but I can tell you that our speaking list will be full for these pieces of legislation, because we know that they matter to all Victorians. Take the Aged Care Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision-maker Bill 2024, for instance. This will contribute to making sure that those in our aged care system – those members of our family that we love so much and those members of our community that we love so much – will be treated with the care, the dignity and the respect that they deserve. It is an incredibly important piece of legislation that I know those in my community with loved ones in aged care facilities in Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing know are incredibly important.
We have also got the State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024, and I would like to agree with the member for Morwell. I think it is a fantastic piece of legislation as well, an absolutely fantastic piece of legislation. It makes up a couple of the 64 reduced taxes in Victoria since we came to government in 2014. This makes up part of that. This piece of legislation is a GP payroll tax bulk-billing exemption, making it easier for those in our community that need to access a doctor and that need to take advantage of bulk-billing. We know that that has been incredibly difficult since about 2013, when we had 10 years of a federal government that tried to trash Medicare, so it has been incumbent on the state to make it easier for people to be able to see a doctor. Of course there is also a land tax exemption for social and affordable housing providers, which is also incredibly important.
Just in my last minute I should really touch on the tobacco legislation which has also been introduced today. This is a piece of legislation that is the result of extensive consultation and that also fulfils a commitment that this government made earlier this year. I said that this government business program and everything on it is incredibly important to those on this side of the house, but this piece of legislation is incredibly important to those in my community. It contains some of the toughest penalties in the country for this type of behaviour and seeks to hold those trying to do wrong by our community accountable. It is a fantastic government business program, and I commend it to the house.
Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (13:14): I am pleased to rise today on the government business program and all the reasons why we oppose it, because as the member for Brighton pointed out earlier, the government is all over the place. We have just heard how important all the bills are today from the member for Tarneit. He said this is a very important program and listed all the bills. Well, if they are all so important, which bill are they going to guillotine early that we cannot debate? It is a pretty simple question. If this program is so important and we push through four bills this week, which bill is going to be guillotined? Which bill is the less important bill?
It is amazing that this government has this morning decided to bring in a tobacco bill when we introduced a bill two weeks ago. I will say this about the member for Ovens Valley: imitation is the best form of flattery. That is what the government have done. They listened to the member for Ovens Valley and then decided, ‘Oh, that’s right, we’ve got to do something about this,’ and then they brought in a bill today to debate this week. Were we meant to take the government’s word that they have consulted with everyone? Victorians trust this government enough for us to take their word that they have consulted with all the stakeholders of the tobacco bill? I do not think the Victorian public would be very happy with us if we did that. They have brought in a bill this week, and our shadow ministers have not had a chance to talk to the stakeholders to see if what is in this bill reflects their attitudes and their expectation – no chance at all. That is an insult to this house and it is an insult to all Victorians.
I have heard here today that we are the big blockers, but two weeks ago those on that side blocked us trying to bring in a bill for tobacco. That is fact. It is also a fact that it is not the first time this has happened. The government has history in this. Every time we on this side of the chamber try to bring in a bill that will benefit Victorians, this government blocks it. Who can forget the Denyer bill? That was introduced by this side of the house, and this government blocked it. Then later the government brought it back in and the poor families had to live through that again. That was disgraceful. That was a bill brought on by our shadow minister that that side of the chamber blocked. Who can forget the machete bill? That was another one that was brought in by this side of the house that this government blocked and then reintroduced. So do not sit there on that side of the house and call us blockers. They blocked two very important pieces of legislation in this state and then brought them back. As I said, imitation is the best form of flattery.
We do have three other bills here today. The Aged Care Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision-maker Bill 2024 came about from a royal commission that the Liberal–National federal government did, and it is a bill that we will debate later this week. I am not going to get into that debate today, but it is a bill that needed to be brought in. So is this the bill that we are going to guillotine early? Will this important piece of legislation be the bill that gets guillotined? It should not be. It deserves debate, as does the State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024.
The problem is – and this is why we are opposing this today – we have not got enough time to debate, not to mention we are still going through the budget take-note motion. There are still eight people on this side of the chamber that have not had their say about how useless this government is and how the budget is about as useful as lips on a chicken for their electorates. They have not had that opportunity, and they deserve that opportunity. Will the government actually get it done this year? We have got communities that need answers to the budget, and the government is not giving us the opportunity. Of course we were always going to oppose the business program because, quite frankly, it is as useless as lips on a chicken.
Assembly divided on motion:
Ayes (49): Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D’Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (25): Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Kim O’Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Jess Wilson
Motion agreed to.