Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Commonwealth Games

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Why will Victorians have to pay compensation, estimated to be up to $2 billion, because of the government’s decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:48): The government, and indeed the Premier and I, have already, through a number of press conferences and media statements over the last couple of weeks, been really clear that when the information was presented –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. The choice became very clear. Six billion dollars – indeed, in excess of $6 billion – for a 12-day sporting event was just too much, particularly when you consider that the key reason why the government agreed to host these games in the first place was because of the legacy benefits that would come to regional Victorians through housing, through investment in community sporting infrastructure and through tourism and events. Indeed I do note that this was a bipartisan position from the member for Caulfield.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: No, no, the support for the legacy outcomes was indeed something that was supported by the member for Caulfield. And so that is –

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, I would ask you to bring the Deputy Premier back to answering the question. The question was about the $2 billion of taxpayers money which is being wasted, and we would like to ask the Deputy Premier: why do taxpayers have to pay $2 billion for her mismanagement?

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. I will refer the house to this quote:

That was the reason why we were doing this, to create legacy projects.

That came from the member for Caulfield. That was the key focus for the government, and that is why –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: the $2 billion is going to be invested in regional Victoria for at least 1300 social and affordable homes. Those of us particularly on this side and a few over there as well know that there is no bigger issue for Victorians at the moment.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question is very simple: why will Victorians have to pay compensation for the decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games? Why compensation?

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Deputy Premier is being relevant to the question that was asked, and I remind members that a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, the key reason why we agreed to these games in the first instance was those ongoing legacy benefits, and that is why that is exactly what we are doing by investing in housing, in community and sporting infrastructure, and in tourism and major event support across regional and rural Victoria.

Now, in terms of questions that the Leader of the Opposition directly referred to, negotiations are underway. We have also been very clear that we are not going to cut across those negotiations. We are going to need to let those negotiations run their course. There will be an update to the Victorian community once they have concluded, but it is absolutely appropriate that we do not cut across those negotiations with any reckless public commentary like we are seeing from the Leader of the Opposition.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:52): Will the Deputy Premier guarantee to the Parliament and all Victorians that the government will publicly release the full costs of cancelling the Commonwealth Games?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:53): Well, I answered the supplementary question in the substantive question from the Leader of the Opposition. We have been very clear that there are negotiations underway. We will let those negotiations run through the appropriate channels – around the negotiating table, not the dispatch box. We will let them run through that, and there will be a full update to the Victorian community once those negotiations have concluded. That is the appropriate way to conduct these negotiations.

At the same time, though, I will say we are getting on and delivering that $2 billion regional package, with 1300 social and affordable homes, with community sporting infrastructure and with support for tourism and major events.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the supplementary asked whether the full costs will be revealed – not an update – and I would ask you to bring the Deputy Premier back to that very specific question.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier has concluded her answer.