Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Construction industry

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:04): (845) My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Minister, 60 Minutes and the Age newspaper have reported gangland and bikie-linked figures are receiving large payments from companies on publicly funded projects looking to gain favour with union insiders, leaving state and federal taxpayers in effect underwriting payments to the underworld. The Age has also said:

… Victoria Police confirmed that Operation Hawk was not new and had been running for the previous nine months, after this masthead exposed the infiltration of the CFMEU construction union by organised crime figures.

I therefore ask the minister: on what day did you become aware of the Hawk taskforce, and were you consulted on the Premier’s announcement yesterday of its so-called establishment?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:06): I thank Mr Davis for his question. At the outset I concur with the sentiment that revelations and stories of the allegations of inappropriate and, frankly, disgusting behaviour on any worksite are things that this government takes extremely seriously, and it is why we have taken action in a range of measures.

Mr Davis, you have directed your question to me as the Minister for Industrial Relations. I am not the Minister for Police. In relation to Operation Hawk, I would draw your attention to statements from VicPol, which have described Operation Hawk as a newly expanded taskforce who will have dedicated detectives to ensure that they are taking action in relation to any of the allegations occurring on and within the construction industry. I implore anybody who has any –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, the question was: were you consulted on the Premier’s announcement yesterday of its so-called establishment? On what date did you become aware? Were you consulted? The minister has not gone anywhere near that.

The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant to the question.

Jaclyn SYMES: Mr Davis, as I have indicated, I should confine my remarks to my responsibilities as the Minister for Industrial Relations, but I take issue with your imputation that the Victorian government in any way directs Victoria Police. There are operational requirements of Victoria Police, and in relation to their establishment of any taskforces, it would be very inappropriate for any minister to direct Victoria Police. It would therefore be quite inappropriate for me to be consulted in an operational decision of this nature.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:08): I note the minister did not say she was not consulted and did not tell us when she was consulted and when she became aware. In any event, according to reports in the Age newspaper yesterday, hard-earned taxpayers dollars funded payments to gangland and bikie-linked figures on publicly funded projects. I ask simply: when will these unlawful and corrupt payments stop?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:08): Mr Davis, I respect taxpayer money. Any money that is allocated to the delivery of infrastructure projects should be spent on exactly that. Any information, any allegations in relation to misuse of funds should be directed to the appropriate authorities. I point to the fact that there are current investigations that extend to fraud investigations being conducted by Victoria Police right now.

The PRESIDENT: I bring to members’ attention that a former member of this chamber, Cliff Hayes, is in the gallery.