Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Commonwealth Games

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is to the Premier. Commonwealth Games Australia told yesterday’s Senate committee inquiry that it was working with the Andrews government to fix budget blowouts in April 2023, up to seven weeks before the state budget. This directly contradicts comments made by the Premier and Deputy Premier, who both said the cost blowout became apparent in the days leading up to the decision to cancel the games. Why did the government cover up the budget blowout on the Commonwealth Games for months?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:08): The short answer is we did not. That is the short answer. We did not.

Members interjecting.

Daniel ANDREWS: Oh, goodness. Honestly, the way question time works is that the Leader of the Opposition can ask a question and then at least pretend –

John Pesutto: And then we get an answer.

Daniel ANDREWS: ‘We did not’ is an answer to your ridiculous question. We did not. And I have then got another 2½ minutes here, where I might give you a bit of a lecture on how it works, because you ask your question and then you should at least pretend to listen to the answer. This will clear it up.

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is breaching the standing orders, and he knows that.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Premier to make his comments through the Chair.

Daniel ANDREWS: I was asked about the government’s approach to these matters and there was an assertion about what Commonwealth Games authorities had said, had provided in testimony to the Senate inquiry yesterday, and I do not know that the way the Leader of the Opposition presented the testimony from Commonwealth Games authorities is in any way accurate. I then perhaps strayed to indicate, as I think I am probably uniquely placed to be able to comment on it, what it is like to sit in that chair. I did once sit in that chair for what I term to be the minimum amount of time. I was there no longer than I needed to be; I was there a little bit longer than I reckon you will be. But still I did four years in that seat, and in that time I learned that you ask the questions and then you at least pretend to listen to the answers. I think I probably did. I spent not one day longer than I wanted to in that seat. I think I spent longer than you will.

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, I renew my previous point of order. The Premier has wavered a long way from the question, and he needs to come back to answering the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has concluded his answer.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): Given that the government was talking to Commonwealth Games Australia about a budget blowout in April 2023, why did the government deliberately mislead Victorians by failing to reveal the Commonwealth Games cost blowout in the May state budget?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:11): The Leader of the Opposition is completely wrong, completely incorrect. I reject the assertions and the allegations. I cannot reject the bluff and the bluster. That is all a matter for you. Go and have a lie-down, because you are getting very, very agitated. I fear for your blood pressure.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting across the table.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 108, several times today and repeatedly the Premier is referring to people inappropriately. I would ask you to ask him to refer to members by their correct titles.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Frankston! Premier, I ask you to refer your comments through the Chair, and I ask the Leader of the Opposition to also cease interjecting and to refer to members by their correct titles.

Daniel ANDREWS: Thank you, Speaker. Thank you for your guidance. I will abide by your ruling. The Leader of the Opposition just indicated that I should go to the Senate to be lectured by Senator Bridget McKenzie about probity, about honesty, about integrity. It will be a cold day, I tell you. The Senator for Victoria is known for one thing and one thing only: sports rorts. I will say it again: sports rorts. That is all she has ever done. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to be her spokesperson, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to be sports-rorting Bridget McKenzie’s spokesman, good luck to him.