Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Commonwealth Games

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. Yesterday the final report into the 2026 Commonwealth Games found that poor ministerial oversight and accountability were to blame for the debacle. Does the Premier accept responsibility for torching $589 million of Victorians’ money?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): I thank the member for Nepean for his question. The member for Nepean referred to a report that was tabled in this place yesterday regarding the Commonwealth Games, and I do take responsibility and do restate that it was the right decision. It is not just me who thinks it was the right decision; it is in the report that was tabled yesterday. The committee found unanimously that it was the right decision. Indeed, if I recall correctly, I think the former opposition leader also agreed –

Members: Which one?

Jacinta ALLAN: to be precise, the member for Hawthorn.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Narre Warren North can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Narre Warren North withdrew from chamber.

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, the question related to poor ministerial accountability and the Premier’s responsibility when it comes to torching $589 million of Victorians’ money. I ask you to bring the Premier back to answering that question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was answering the member for Nepean’s question directly and quoting from the report that he referred to in his question. I know that it is a little bit inconvenient for the member for Nepean to have these facts pointed out. Also in affirming that it was the right decision, as the committee itself unanimously reported on yesterday, we are getting on now and delivering right now in regional Victoria investments in building more homes, in building sport infrastructure –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is required to be succinct in answering, and the question was very narrow, about accepting responsibility for torching $589 million of taxpayers money, not talking about accountancy and other policies.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Manger of Opposition Business knows not to repeat the question. The Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: That investment is being made right now, whether it is in Ballarat or Geelong or Bendigo or the Latrobe Valley or indeed right across regional Victoria. We are attracting more events to regional Victoria, we are seeing more visitors come to regional Victoria and we are making these investments right now.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I think the Premier is abusing your ruling on coming back to the question. It was a very narrow question about the $589 million wasted.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (14:16): The now Premier and the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop were the ministers responsible for the Commonwealth Games debacle. The same ministers now preside over the Suburban Rail Loop. Why should Victorians have any faith the government will not mess that up as well?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:17): Victorians know two things. When it comes to the Suburban Rail Loop it is only Labor governments that will deliver the Suburban Rail Loop, regardless of who the minister might be, because it is a project Victorians want and it is a project Victorians need. Infrastructure Australia agrees. The federal government agrees, which is why we have a partner in the project. Victorians know that the Liberal Party oppose this project, oppose the workers, oppose the train line to Monash University –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mildura can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Mildura withdrew from chamber.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, it is a baseless imputation to say that we oppose workers, because we do not. I would ask the Premier to desist from imputations.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Manger of Opposition Business, that is not a point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: I also say this: Victorians also know that I will fight for Victoria. On this side of the house we will fight for Victoria, not take our riding instructions from a Queenslander who wants to live in Sydney and who cannot find Melbourne on a map.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mordialloc can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Mordialloc withdrew from chamber.