Tuesday, 16 August 2022

COVID-19

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:02): My question is for the Leader of the Government and Attorney-General. I refer to the Qdos research undertaken by Labor-linked pollster John Armitage, the release of which the government is fighting at VCAT despite the information commissioner ordering the release of most of the documents sought by the Australian newspaper, and I ask: given that many of the documents have cabinet exemptions claimed, did you see these highly political documents that track the community mood about lockdowns and the government’s performance, and if so, does this not contradict the government’s claim that it was operating on health advice alone?

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:03): There is so much wrong with that question, Mr Davis. You are asking me to behave appropriately, but then you are asking me to breach cabinet in confidence and you are asking me to comment on a matter before the courts.

Mr Leane: And he asked three questions instead of one.

Ms SYMES: Well, that is true. It is not appropriate for me to respond to your question, for the reasons that I have outlined. Do not draw an inference from that. It is a ridiculous question, and there are some processes that you have identified that would be appropriate to continue without my interference and probably without yours.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:03): With the government fighting the independent umpire’s decision to release most of this information, how is this model litigant behaviour rather than simply a cover-up of $2 million of party-political advice?

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:04): It is not in the model litigant guidelines to live stream cabinet or give the opposition everything we do. That is just not how government works. In relation to the matters that you have raised, it is not appropriate for me to give you a commentary on matters that are before the courts or matters that are going through appropriate processes. I will not seek to provide any political interference or political commentary in relation to the issues that you have raised.