Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Business of the house
Program
Program
That, under standing order 94(2), the orders of the day, government business, relating to the following bills be considered and completed by 5.00 pm on Thursday, 10 March 2022:
Conservation, Forests and Lands Amendment Bill 2022
Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022.
I will make only a few comments on the government business program. Whilst the motion refers only to two bills on the program for this week, the house is aware that the Minister for Police has just first and second read a police bill to deal with an urgent matter that has come through from the office of the chief commissioner that the Parliament needs to very quickly rectify. Our intention is to put this bill through this place today and send it off to the Legislative Council in the hope that it can be dealt with immediately there as well. I would like to put on record the government’s appreciation and acknowledgement of the way the house has facilitated this to happen in this way and particularly note the cooperation and the support of the opposition to move this matter through the Parliament as quickly as possible to address this issue. So that will take up much of the government’s business today, and that bill, as I said—and I have discussed this with other members of the house—we would propose be concluded later this afternoon or this evening.
There are two other bills on the program, one of which is an important change to the justice system which will no doubt have a lot of interest from members, and that is the Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022. This is something that has been considered during this COVID period, and I am sure members will want to speak at some length on that bill, and no doubt on the Conservation, Forests and Lands Amendment Bill 2022 as well.
The government has also indicated that should there be time available over the course of the week we would like to go back—I know there are many members on our side; forgive me, I am not being partisan in any way, I am just not sure if there are members on the other side who want to speak—to the take-note motion on the mental health royal commission. It was just last week that was the first anniversary of the handing down of that critically important work by the royal commission, and a year of action and implementation from the government has followed. It is an opportunity for colleagues to talk to the important reform work that is contained in the royal commission’s work. I note that there has also been some work across the Parliament on establishing a friends of mental health group, a cross-party group to address these issues. I think it is important that we all look at every way that we can support people with mental health issues but also make sure our workplaces are as supportive and as responsive as they can possibly be. With those few brief comments, I commend the government business motion to the house, and as I do every week, look forward to its unanimous support.
Ms STALEY (Ripon) (12:22): I rise to speak on the government business program. I would like to start by wishing the women of Victoria, particularly the women in this place, a happy International Women’s Day.
On this occasion the Liberal-Nationals will not be opposing the government business program, but we do note that it is a particularly slim government business program, with only two bills on it, one of which is only six pages long and has one substantive clause. Now, of course as the Leader of the House has indicated, we will be assisting the facilitation of the Victoria Police Amendment Bill 2022, and we have been happy to work with the government to see that first and second read today. Like the Leader of the House, we expect that it will pass through the Assembly later today. We have a number of people who want to speak on that bill. I am sure the government does as well. We would expect to see that bill in a situation where it can go to the Council later today.
But I return to the two bills that are on the government business program, and I note that the reason we only have two bills on the program is because the one that the government had foreshadowed that we would have on the program today, which was of course their big new housing tax that they were proposing to bring in to the Parliament for this sitting week, has in fact now been deferred. So we do not have it in the Parliament, and we will wait to see whether we will see this bill in this term. We know that it has been drafted. We know that it is sitting there waiting. What we do know is that the opposition from Victorians to this brand new housing tax was so vociferous that the government has chosen not to bring it forward today. But we do know that that bill is drafted and ready to go. We will see if the government’s word is true and we will not see it in this term. Perhaps they will try next time, if the people of Victoria have not made a different decision in November this year. I would not put it past the government to have another crack if they retain that.
Ms Allan: On a point of order, Speaker, the member for Ripon has had a pretty good run-up on speaking on a bill that is not on the government business program, and I think it is a bit of a stretch. We can all understand passing reference and all, but I do think it perhaps is time to focus the attention of the member for Ripon on the government business program that is before us, not whatever make-believe fiction land she thinks might happen in the future. Focus on the present and the government business program that is before us.
The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business is entitled to mention what is not on but should not dwell on it, so I ask the manager to come back to the business program in front of us.
Ms STALEY: I am happy to return to the paucity of bills on the government business program. There are only two bills on the government business program, and what it shows is that when their legislative agenda falls over there is nothing in reserve. They have got no ideas left, so there is nothing that they could have brought forward to fill the place of one that did not make it to the government business program this week. What this shows is this government really is very tired. It just does not have the ideas, the legislative agenda. That is why there are only two bills on this government business program. They do not have ideas for the future, they cannot recover and rebuild Victoria, they are not up for coming forward with what Victorians need to recover and rebuild, and that is why we have only got two bills on the government business program this week, one of which I continue to say only has one substantive clause. It is six pages long, and that includes the end notes. It is not a government with fresh ideas for Victoria; it is a tired and failing government that has nothing in reserve and no ideas. But with that, we will not be opposing this very skinny government business program, and we will, as we have indicated, facilitate the Victoria Police Amendment Bill 2022.
Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (12:27): I rise to join the government business program debate today and to acknowledge the strong legislative agenda that is before the house. I of course echo the sentiments expressed by the Leader of the House that what is before us today are three important bills, and I know many on this side of the house will want to contribute. I will be contributing to the Conservation, Forests and Lands Amendment Bill 2022, we have the Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022 and we have heard from the Leader of the House of the importance of the Victoria Police Amendment Bill 2022 and the fact that that needs to be a matter that is dealt with urgently so that there can be a very quick and smooth resolution to this important bill that is before us.
Each and every day this government works very hard not only to deliver projects in local communities but to make sure that there are landmark reforms across Victoria. These reforms make a difference to the everyday life of many Victorians, and these bills this week will contribute towards these important reforms. Most importantly we have an agenda at the heart of this, and that is that these bills make a real difference in our community. The Andrews Labor government is following through what we have always committed to doing from day one, and that is to continue to work each and every day not only investing and building but bringing forward to this place important reforms—reforms that make a difference to the lives of Victorians. So it is a very big week.
Of course today being International Women’s Day I also join with everybody in acknowledging the contribution of women in this place, and more importantly, we are part of a very strong government that is getting things done each and every day. I am looking forward to a very busy agenda and, most importantly, contributing towards the bills. I know that the government members are absolutely ecstatic and are looking forward to contributing towards these bills and many other matters that are outside these bills as well, so I will not hold up the brilliant government business programs any longer. I look forward to this program being debated, and I know that there is now a united consensus in relation to the opposition supporting the government business program.
Mr D O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (12:30): Look at the ecstasy over there. The government members are ecstatic about this government business program. It is a wonderful week that we have got here. I follow the previous member in saying this is a momentous occasion for the Leader of the House, because she loves it when the opposition does not oppose the government business program. There is not much to oppose this week, I have to say. But anyway, I am pleased to hear that government members are ecstatic. The member for Hawthorn looks ecstatic. Look at him—he is very excited. The member for Cranbourne, they are ecstatic. I noticed the member for Cranbourne wearing purple, and I have to wish everybody a happy International Women’s Day.
Ms Allan: Have to or want to? Come on.
Mr D O’BRIEN: I want to. I do want to. I do want to wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day. I am actually a little bit embarrassed, because clearly I did not get the memo about purple, and not only that, I am wearing the colours of the patriarchy as well, with an all-blue suit and an all-blue tie. I do apologise, but genuinely, happy International Women’s Day. I do wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day, particularly the minister sitting at the table, the Minister for Women. I hope everyone enjoys the day. But as the member for Ripon indicated, this would be—
Members interjecting.
Mr D O’BRIEN: You are not the Minister for Women?
Ms Allan interjected.
Mr D O’BRIEN: Leader of the House, happy International Women’s Day. We love debating the government business program with the Leader of the House. We do not often get this sort of interaction, so I am pleased to have it from her today.
It is also wonderful to be here in this chamber without masks—I have to add that. After the work that the Parliament and you, Speaker, have gone through through this pandemic, this is I think actually a significant advancement. I do note there are some members still wearing masks in the chamber, and that is absolutely fine. It is absolutely appropriate that people have the choice to do that. I myself am still in my 30-day period post a positive test, so I am still in that beautiful little—
Ms Ward: Bubble.
Mr D O’BRIEN: Bubble, thank you. That means that I cannot give it, I cannot get it—I am all good—but that runs out in a few days. But it is wonderful to be able to walk around this building without masks, and it is a further sign of us getting back to normal.
The member for Ripon did mention that it is a particularly light business program. I am looking forward, though, to the Conservation, Forests and Lands Amendment Bill 2022. This is legislation that has been some time in coming. Whilst we have some questions about how effective the bill will be, the intention of course is correct in that it hopefully will give us some certainty, particularly for our forest contractors in the timber industry, which is very important to my electorate. I know plenty of people who have been very frustrated at being locked out of their jobs, and so I look forward to the debate on that legislation. In addition, we have the Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022, and that is it—except not on the government business program is the Victoria Police Amendment Bill 2022 that we will be dealing with today. As has been mentioned, the opposition will be helping to facilitate its quick passage through here to address that issue.
But as the member for Ripon pointed out, what we also should have been debating this week is the housing tax. It just shows that when the government cannot tax it does not have any other ideas, and this is the outcome of that: we have got a very, very light government business program. We are well into the fourth quarter of the term now, and the government is running out of ideas like a car running out of fuel, slowing down with just these two bills this week. So for a government that prides itself on a progressive and full agenda, it is a pretty indicting government business program that indicates it is pretty light on. But anyway, as I said, there is nothing to necessarily oppose about the business program, so I look forward to debating it this week.
Mr DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh) (12:35): It is indeed a pleasure to speak on the government business program, and what interesting contributions by some of them on the other side. The free marketeers, the civil libertarians, the libertarians in general want much more legislation. Well, you could not achieve what we have achieved in seven years. You could not achieve it in 27 years.
The SPEAKER: Through the Chair.
Mr DIMOPOULOS: This government’s reformist agenda: like the Premier says, if you do not have a reform agenda, you do not have an agenda at all. Specifically when you look at this government business program—not only the legislation but the take-note motion on mental health—that is one of the biggest reforms in social policy in Victoria’s history, along with three-year-old kinder and along with the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Now, when we stand up and we talk about International Women’s Day, like we all have in our contributions today, we do it on the back of an extraordinary achievement in that area. We have still got a long way to go—but extraordinary achievement. We have got half the Victorian cabinet—more than half—women. We have significant achievements in relation to the announcement today by Minister Pulford in the other place and many other announcements. So we do not just stand here in a perfunctory sense and say, ‘Happy International Women’s Day’. I take it in good faith on the other side, but just standing here right now I can count six or seven—in fact probably about 10—female Labor MPs in the chamber at this moment and I can count one Liberal MP on the other side. So when we talk about International Women’s Day, we do not just talk about it in a perfunctory sense; we do things that make a material difference to women, leadership and power structures in every area of society. The Minister for Women, a good friend of mine and a champion and pioneer in this sense, is in the chamber, and she knows exactly what I mean.
On that point, when I, like all my colleagues, stand at many events and do the acknowledgement of country, I do it on the back of a government that is the first government in the country to actually start a treaty process with First Nations people. We are not perfunctory about that either: the first government in Australia’s history to do that; the first government to start the Yoorrook commission, the truth and justice commission; the first government to provide traineeships and working opportunities for First Nations people in major Victorian projects.
So when we talk about reform, we do not talk about it in a perfunctory sense when it comes to women, First Nations people or anything else on the government business program. That is why every week this government is in this chamber, in this Parliament, is a good week for the Victorian community. I commend the government business program. It is a cracking government business program for a cracking government. Let us crack on.
Mr ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (12:38): After that contribution I feel at liberty to speak about whatever the hell I like, really. I also rise to address the government business program this week and will do my level best to speak—
Members interjecting.
Mr ROWSWELL: Wow. I hope that is on your register of interest, member for Burwood. Of course, as previous speakers on this side have indicated, members on this side will not be opposing the government business program this week. We do, however, note that there are but two bills on the government business program. By agreement we have allowed for the Victoria Police Amendment Bill 2022 to be first and second read today, and by agreement also we understand that that bill will occupy the business of this house until around 6 today, at which point we will return to the take-note motion on the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System—I look forward to hearing the member for Ripon’s contribution at that time. Then we will adjourn later today.
As previous speakers have raised, yes, the housing tax is not mentioned on the government business program this week. I am not sure if you are familiar, Speaker, with the famous ABC character Mr Squiggle. As the child of the 1980s I am, I remember very fondly the blackboard that would say in a bit of a droning voice, ‘Upside down, upside down’. I remember that fondly, and it sort of reminds me—
The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House on a point of order.
Mr ROWSWELL: I have not got to my punchline.
Ms Allan: It is all in the delivery, member for Sandringham. On a point of order, Speaker, I am really struggling to see how Mr Squiggle has any relevance to the government business program. If he did, he would be telling the member for Sandringham to hurry up and get on with coming back to the government business program.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Oakleigh! It has been a wideranging debate, one of the widest ranging debates on the government business program that I can remember. Members, as I have indicated before, can go to what is not on the government business program very briefly, but then they need to come back to what is on the government business program. So I would encourage the member for Sandringham to complete his Mr Squiggle analogy and then come back to the government business program.
Mr ROWSWELL: Something for the annals of history. So there was that character, Blackboard—upside down, as I say. It reminds me of the government, whose only idea is to tax and spend, tax and spend, and that is something that is at the forefront of their agenda. Now, back to the government business program, Speaker, in accordance with your guidance: I look forward to hearing with great enthusiasm the member for Brighton, my colleague, who will address the—
Ms Allan: Why aren’t you back on the front bench?
The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the House!
Mr ROWSWELL: Because I am here to serve. I am here to serve, and that is my motivation.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Without interjections. The Leader of the House and the member of Oakleigh!
Mr ROWSWELL: The member for Brighton will lead our contribution on the Conservation, Forests and Lands Amendment Bill 2022, and the member for Malvern will lead our contribution on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022. I also look forward with great vigour and enthusiasm to contributing to as many bills as I can this week, as it is a great joy for me to do so. In conclusion, we will not be opposing the government business program this week.
Motion agreed to.