Thursday, 23 March 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier or anyone in his office been interviewed by Professor McMillan into his investigation of Labor’s politicisation of the public service?

 Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:21): I have not spoken to the professor. I do not know that I have ever met the professor. As for anyone else, I would not know. The reason I am hesitating is I am not sure what if any obligations might be on anybody who had been interviewed by the Ombudsman. The member for Bulleen would know all about the Ombudsman because he was interviewed by him. You might have been interviewed by him over your water rorts, over the office of living it up.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58 the Premier knows better than to debate the question. I ask you to bring him back to order on this very important question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will come back to the question.

Daniel ANDREWS: As I said, I have not met the professor so named by the Leader of the Opposition. I do not believe I have met the guy ever. I certainly have not spoken to him about any work he might be doing for the Ombudsman. As for anybody else, I think the best thing to do would be to have a conversation with the Ombudsman about what she is doing or getting other people to do for her.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): With more than 90 Andrews government ministerial advisers parachuted into the VPS executive, can the Premier rule out that his private office has played any role in the politicisation of the public service by supporting appointments of former ministerial staff to executive positions?

 Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:23): I would have probably liked to finish stronger than that because this might be your last one, mate. This might be your last one. Depending on how Monday goes, it may be the Leader of the Opposition’s last one. You seem to be confusing –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, again, I would ask you to bring the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to answering the question.

Daniel ANDREWS: The Leader of the Opposition seems to be confusing the Victorian public service with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Canberra, where –

A member interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS: Well, quite a few of your mates got appointed – quite a few – thoroughly unqualified, might I add. Appointments made by this government are made on merit. If in the future you happen to need a job and an appointment, come and see me.