Thursday, 9 March 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Government integrity

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, in today’s Herald Sun there is a report –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will be removed without warning.

John Pesutto: In today’s Herald Sun there is a report on a letter that you and the President in the other place received. The point of order I make is that you make that letter available to members of the house. It is fortunate that members on this side of the house and Victorians more generally were able to obtain a copy of the letter from that article. But with all due respect and as a courtesy to all members of the house I do think it is appropriate that that letter which you received be made available to all members of the house.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, I am sure, as you well know, a point of order cannot be used to ask a question of the Speaker, and I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: I will take the point of order on notice.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Premier.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The house will come to order!

John PESUTTO: My question is to the Premier. Former IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich has accused your government of instigating revenge attacks on IBAC in retaliation for various probes into corruption within the Andrews government. Why has the Premier’s government instigated revenge attacks on IBAC?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:04): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I am not sure that he is necessarily faithfully quoting the former IBAC Commissioner, but what I can say is that no such thing has occurred.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): The Premier has personally faced at least four IBAC probes that Victorians are aware of, including investigation of corrupt dealings with the United Firefighters Union, corrupt land deals, corrupt misuse of political staffers and corrupt union grants. Given the government’s efforts to undermine and weaken IBAC, why shouldn’t Victorians conclude that corruption within the Andrews government is real?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:05): Because it is not.