Wednesday, 16 August 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Acting Premier. The Acting Premier was stripped of the ministerial responsibility for the delivery of the Commonwealth Games on 20 July. Which minister now holds responsibility for the negotiation of the hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation payments for breaking the Commonwealth Games contract?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Assistant Treasurer is warned.

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:21): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and in answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question I will remind the house that the Minister for Housing is delivering a billion dollars in regional housing, the Minister for Regional Development is delivering that $150 million regional worker accommodation package, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events has got a $130-million tourism –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Yes, $130 million? 170? Goodness me, it has gone up!

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Acting Premier was asked who is responsible for the negotiation of the compensation payments. It was a very simple question, and I would ask you to ask the Acting Premier to answer the question.

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business knows a point of order is not an opportunity to ask the question again. The Acting Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: Of course our Minister for Community Sport is going to be very busy with a big and active community sport program, including that fabulous all-abilities program to get more people with a disability into community sporting programs. In terms of the responsibility for the whole-of-government negotiations, of course that responsibility sits with the Leader of the Government, the Premier.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): With negotiations on the Commonwealth Games having dragged on for a month without settlement, do Victorians now face the prospect of extensive litigation costs on top of compensation payments?

The SPEAKER: Order! Questions should not seek a hypothetical proposition. The question sought a hypothetical proposition. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to rephrase his question.

John PESUTTO: I ask the Acting Premier: what are the total litigation costs to date resulting from the Commonwealth Games cancellation?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Frankston, I am reluctant to remove you from the chamber once again, but you are very close.

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:23): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This bloke used to be a lawyer, didn’t he? Didn’t you used to be one of those types that would wander around the city as a high-powered lawyer?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will come to order.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition asked an important, simple question. It is not an opportunity for the Acting Premier to be nasty.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Acting Premier strayed from the answer to her question. I ask her to come back to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: The answer to this question is consistent with the answer to many other questions that have been put on this matter: negotiations are underway. Once those negotiations have concluded, there will be a reporting of the outcome of those negotiations. We are simply not going to cut across those negotiations. Meanwhile, there is a lot of activity for the government to get on with in terms of the legacy benefits of the games. And isn’t it interesting? You do not have too much support other than the poor old member for Brighton behind you.