Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Transport infrastructure projects

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. The minister was advised on 14 June 2022 by Major Transport Infrastructure Authority IR director Darren Driscoll about the impact of illegal CFMEU activity against Indigenous firms on the state’s infrastructure projects. Why did the minister disregard this advice and fail to take any direct action to address alleged illegal CFMEU activity against Indigenous firms on projects that she is directly responsible for?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:02): Apologies in advance for croaking just a little bit today. The Andrews Labor government is absolutely proud of the fact that we have more Indigenous Victorians working on our transport infrastructure projects than ever before. We have more Indigenous-led firms working on our transport infrastructure projects as part of the supply chain than ever before. And do you know why we have this situation? The reason why we have the situation is, first and foremost, we have an infrastructure pipeline – an infrastructure pipeline that those opposite would have preferred to scrap and not only not see the projects delivered but not have Indigenous Victorians work on these projects.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 58 in relation to relevance, the question related very specifically to illegal activity on sites under the purview of the minister, and I would expect and I would think that Victorians would expect an answer to this question. This is not funny, Minister.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: In answering this question, and I am being entirely relevant to the preamble that was put by the member for Caulfield, it is important to remember why we are talking about this topic. We are only talking about this issue because the Andrews Labor government has a pipeline of infrastructure projects. Let us remember that this was a pipeline about which those opposite took to the Victorian community and said, ‘We want to scrap this pipeline. We want to scrap these Indigenous opportunities. We want to scrap these Indigenous employment opportunities.’

Members interjecting.

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

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is now debating the question. I would ask you to bring her back to the actual question that was asked.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant. She was referring to Indigenous infrastructure works.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. I was getting to my second point, of course, which is: not only do we have an infrastructure pipeline, but we very deliberately require the construction companies that work with us on the delivery of these projects to make sure that they have Indigenous employment targets, to employ more women on our construction projects and to make sure that there is a requirement of apprentices, trainees and cadets working on these projects.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, standing order 58 requires the minister to be direct. The minister has not even gone to the substance of the question directly or at all. She has not been direct to the question, which was in relation to illegal activity.

The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question, but from my perspective the minister was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. As I was saying, it is because of these deliberate policy settings that the Andrews Labor government has written into each and every one of our contracts that brings us to the point that we have now today 3 million hours worked by Indigenous people on our projects and 116 –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!

Jacinta ALLAN: 68 level crossings –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! This is unacceptable. The minister to continue in silence.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. That is the approach we take when it is about delivering projects. We do not just want these projects delivered for better infrastructure connections. We want to drive that benefit deep into the Victorian community. That is why we now – today – have 3 million hours worked, $116 million invested, and we continue to expect our construction partners to deal with matters of industrial relations within their supply chain as is set out under the requirements.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Frankston is warned.

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:07): Minister, how many state transport infrastructure projects have been impacted by alleged illegal CFMEU activity against Indigenous firms?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:07): I am happy to answer the question; however, I am slightly challenged by the reference to the word ‘alleged’. That just presents a little bit of a challenge, but what I can say is thanks to the Andrews Labor government’s unprecedented transport infrastructure pipeline of 165 projects and over $100 billion of investment we have Indigenous people working across all of these projects – and indeed that is Indigenous firms. Let us look at the Suburban Rail Loop –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 58, this is an abuse of the procedures of the house. The minister is purposely avoiding answering serious questions that relate to illegal activity. She is refusing to answer and obfuscating –

The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, that is not a point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: There are 15 Indigenous firms working right now on the Suburban Rail Loop project early works. None of those 15 companies would be employed on the Suburban Rail Loop if those opposite had had their way –

Peter Walsh: On a point of order, Speaker, in the 12 seconds that is remaining I would ask you to bring the minister back to actually answering the question. If she is unable to she may want to refer to the email from Mr Driscoll that says there is –

The SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. The minister is being relevant to the question. I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question. She is being relevant to the question.

Daniel Andrews interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: As the Premier has just reminded me, they would have been lucky to have seen nine projects during their time in office, let alone one. We will continue to work with our construction industry partners to deliver these projects and support Indigenous Victorians. (Time expired)