Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Government integrity

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): My question is to the Premier. Operation Daintree: Special Report stated:

A culture that permits improper political interference to occur magnifies the risk that it will lead to corrupt political behaviour.

Premier, by meeting personally with the Health Workers Union and promising them millions of dollars without proper processes, isn’t this the corrupt political behaviour that IBAC is referring to?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:33): The answer is no, but again I think the Deputy Premier described the Leader of the National Party as being ‘fairly brave’. I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition was a bit brave to be lecturing anybody on personal behaviour today of all days. If I were you, I would stick to abusing women in your party room.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, do you have a supplementary question?

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): I am addressing it to the Premier. Premier, very brave, very brave. On a supplementary –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I will not tolerate this. I need to hear the opposition’s supplementary question in silence.

John PESUTTO: Thank you, Speaker. The Daintree report also found:

… ministerial offices giving privileged access and favourable treatment to special interest groups to the detriment of the public interest …

Victorians are suffering from higher taxes and poorer services. Is it because, as IBAC has found, your government is giving favourable treatment to special interest groups – a government of mates, for mates, by mates?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Assistant Treasurer is warned. The Premier to answer the supplementary question.

John Pesutto interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:35): Apparently he is closing in on me. To see yourself as others see you is the rarest gift and one that has evaded you, my friend. Have a look at them behind you. They cannot even summon the snoring. They cannot even snore, they are so bored, mate.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier and the Leader of the Opposition are warned.

Daniel ANDREWS: The Leader of the Opposition is completely wrong in the assertions he makes, unfounded as they are and, it would seem, so uninspiring are his efforts, so confected is his outrage and so amateurish is his performance, that not only those on this side of the house but those precious few that sit behind him are equally unimpressed by him as an outstandingly unimpressive person.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you asked the question. If you ask a question, Leader of the Opposition, I expect you want to hear the answer.