Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Commonwealth Games

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Premier. The Commonwealth Games inquiry found that there was inadequate planning and consultation, logistical issues caused by the proposed multicity model and poor ministerial oversight and accountability. How can the Premier defend the cost to Victorians of $589 million during a cost-of-living crisis for an election commitment that was never going to be delivered?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:21): As I have said previously on this matter, when the Commonwealth Games needed a host jurisdiction to step in at short notice, we were willing to help but not at any cost, so when the Leader of the Opposition refers to –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: When it came to considering how we could invest now in those benefits that come from housing, from sporting infrastructure and from tourism infrastructure, we made the right decision – a decision that had the unanimous support of the committee that reported to this Parliament yesterday and a decision that the former Leader of the Opposition agreed to as well. We are seeing these investments that are being made in regional Victoria right now. That is what we are focused on. When it comes to supporting cost of living, delivering cost-of-living measures to support families right across this state, I was proud to stand with the Minister for Education this morning at Abbotsford Primary School announcing another way that we are supporting parents with the costs of getting their kids to school at a great government school.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. She is including extraneous matters.

Ben Carroll: On the point of order, Speaker, from Speaker Brooks:

A minister is to relate remarks to the question asked.

The question went very clearly to planning and logistics around the Commonwealth Games. The Premier has gone to planning, housing, tourism and cost of living, which were all in the substantive question from the opposition leader. I urge you to rule that point of order out of order.

Sam Groth: On the point of order, Speaker, the Manager of Opposition Business’s point of order related to the Premier debating the question, not the relevance of the answer, and I ask you to uphold that point of order.

The SPEAKER: I cannot tell the Premier how to answer a question. She was being relevant, but I remind the Premier of the narrowness of the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was asked about cost of living, and I was detailing for the Leader of the Opposition how just today we are adding to the way that we are supporting working people and families in this state with those very real and challenging cost-of-living pressures – helping get their kids to school in school uniforms, helping them with the free breakfast program. I know you opposed Fresh Fruit Friday and you cut Fresh Fruit Friday –

Bridget Vallence: Speaker, I renew the same point of order. The Premier is debating the question. It has got nothing to do with the matters that she has just referred to. It is very narrow about the cost-of-living crisis and the waste of money for an election commitment that they then reneged on.

The SPEAKER: I reiterate that I cannot tell the Premier how to answer the question, but she was being relevant to the question. The Premier has concluded her answer.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): Premier, is it government policy to continue with poor ministerial oversight and accountability, seen with the Commonwealth Games, for the Suburban Rail Loop, which will cost Victorians billions of dollars for a project that will never be delivered?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:25): Clearly the Leader of the Opposition is just once again not across the detail, because work is happening right now on the Suburban Rail Loop –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Nationals, you can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Gippsland South withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: and only someone who is not across his brief and not across the detail – only someone like the Leader of the Opposition – would make that statement. No, I correct myself; I also heard the federal Leader of the Opposition say the same thing. So you have got a Queenslander who lives in Sydney who does not know what is going on in Melbourne, and it appears his man in Melbourne also does not know what is going on in Melbourne. Heaven help us; heaven help the Liberal Party here. There is work happening right now. There are thousands of people, and they are the workers whose pay packets will be cut if those opposite have their way.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. It was very narrow, about poor ministerial oversight, and I would ask you to ask the Premier to come back to that question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.