Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Member conduct

John PESUTTO, Danny PEARSON
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Member conduct

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Government Services. The minister was briefed on changes to the Victorian telecommunications services state purchase contract whilst an active shareholder of Telstra. Did the minister at any time provide any comment, consent, approval or agreement related to changes to this state purchase contract?

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:15): I have always behaved appropriately. I have always declared my interests. This was an independent process run by the Department of Treasury and Finance, and it was overseen by an independent probity auditor.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): Last month the minister apologised for an error of judgement in overseeing the awarding of a state banking contract to the Commonwealth Bank, which he is an active shareholder in. He has now also overseen the awarding of a telecommunications contract to a telco he is a shareholder in. How many more government contracts have been awarded under the minister’s areas of ministerial responsibility to companies in which he is a shareholder?

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:16): Again, I have always behaved appropriately, I have always disclosed my interests, and I refer the Leader of the Opposition to my previous answer.

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