Justice system
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:09): My question is to the minister representing the Attorney-General. Minister, in March 2022 Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee tabled its report into Victoria’s criminal justice system. Has the minister read the report?
Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (14:09): I thank the member for his question. I point out to the member that the Attorney-General is the responsible minister, and I will ensure that the Attorney responds to any particular queries that the member has in relation to the report and its findings. I welcome the report and the work that has been done, and I would say to the member that if he has any specific inquiries in relation to the details of the inquiry, I am more than happy to raise those on his behalf with the Attorney in the other place.
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:10): Minister, under the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, the government has six months to formally respond to inquiries once tabled. More than 10 months later, this inquiry has not been responded to. Why has the government failed to respond to this important inquiry?
Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (14:10): I thank the member for his question. Can I say further that not only have we seen a significant investment from the government – over $100 million already in investing in some of the elements that have been described in that report and outlined in that report – but also we have had an election. A lot of us would be very familiar with the election and the result of that election – the affirmation of the community from that election – and part of that is –
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, again on standing order 58, we are now two questions in, we are halfway through the second question and the minister has not been even remotely direct in relation to why there is such a long delay – in breach of legislation – to the government’s response.
The SPEAKER: The minister was just getting to that issue, I believe.
Anthony CARBINES: I thank the member for their point of order. Can we just be very clear here that matters in relation to the report, and any matters that the member would like to raise, I am happy to refer to the Attorney-General in the other place. I commend not only the work so far that has been done and our investment in relation to the report but also the fact that with an election and a range of other significant events, it is no doubt that the government has already moved quickly in its investment in relation to some of the outcomes in that report.
The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you refer to members by their correct titles, even across the table.