Wednesday, 30 August 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Commonwealth Games

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. After the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, the Premier refused to apologise to athletes and community sport groups. Yesterday, when commenting on the Senate committee inquiry, the Premier dismissed the concerns of regional sport groups, saying he is not here to have a debate with the Bendigo table tennis association. Why does the Premier continue to so arrogantly dismiss the concerns of hardworking Victorian athletes and community sport groups?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:02): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and I reject the assertions within his question. No government I think in the history of this state has invested more in community sport than this government.

John Pesutto: And then taken it away.

Daniel ANDREWS: Look, it would appear that the Leader of the Opposition did not hear what I just said: no government in the history of this state has invested more in community sport than this government. We are very proud to think that our investments have seen more people participating and have seen upgrades to facilities – a much more equitable community sport landscape, particularly for women and girls. So I completely reject the assertion in the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The facts of these matters are very clear: there is a long record of investing in community sport right across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. The facts are inconvenient for the Leader of the Opposition, but the investments have been made. If you want me to write to you with a full accounting of every dollar we have invested in community sport, I am happy to do it, because you are not so good at reading the budget papers. So we will do that so you can be fully apprised of the many, many millions of dollars that have been invested in community sport and indeed election commitments that were made last year that were delivered in this year’s budget – the very first opportunity after the election last year.

What is more, in the regional package announced in relation to the decision to not proceed with the Commonwealth Games, there is a very significant investment in legacy sporting infrastructure and in tourism and major events. Of course on the last point the Leader of the Opposition made about supporting regional Victoria and all these sorts of things –

John Pesutto: You arrogantly dismissed them yesterday.

Daniel ANDREWS: Yes, that is why we are building 1300 homes right across regional Victoria. So again, if the Leader of the Opposition –

John Pesutto: Premier, nothing’s been built yet. You haven’t delivered any new housing stock.

Daniel ANDREWS: Yap, yap, yap. Ask the question and just keep on going.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order, which I am pretty sure I know what it is, I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to cease interjecting across the table. After he has asked a question, I expect all members to listen to the answer.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I ask you on relevance to bring the Premier back to the question and ask him to refrain from the arrogant way he behaves across the table.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Manager of Opposition Business has raised a very significant point of order about behaviour in this chamber, particularly during question time. I would ask all members to take note of the Chair’s rulings when you are in the chamber.

Daniel ANDREWS: As I was saying, we have invested very strongly in community sport right across regional Victoria.

John Pesutto interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS: It would seem the Leader of the Opposition is putting forward that we have not invested in community sport, which is completely wrong – completely and utterly wrong. Whether it is formal investment or informal investment, let me be clear: we have invested and we will keep investing right across regional Victoria in sport, in health, in education, in jobs, in transport.

John Pesutto interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS: The Leader of the Opposition can keep on interjecting all he likes, the facts are clear.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Yesterday’s Senate committee inquiry revealed that Andrews government MPs, including the Premier, Deputy Premier and local members, have failed to engage with local sporting groups since the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games. The president of the Bendigo table tennis association Gary Warnest stated:

We’ve almost been ignored, disregarded in consultation.

Is it government policy to ignore, disregard and hide from local sport groups who have lost out as a result of the Premier’s decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games?

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:07): No, it is not. Again, I would simply point out the government has invested in very substantial terms –

A member: Record terms.

Daniel ANDREWS: Record terms, in fact – in terms of community sport, and for the Leader of the Opposition to assert otherwise is simply wrong.

A member: 83 per cent in Labor seats.

Members interjecting.

Daniel ANDREWS: Oh, we have only invested in Labor seats? And why are those seats Labor seats? Because the Victorian community voted to keep you right where you are now. Get the Toyota Tarago out –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 108, the Premier repeatedly refers to members in an improper way and I would ask you to ask him to behave accordingly.

The SPEAKER: I would ask the Premier to direct his comments through the Chair.

Daniel ANDREWS: The parliamentary Liberal Party rabble, just to be clear, and the Leader of the Opposition –

Members interjecting.

Daniel ANDREWS: Honestly, the Leader of the Opposition – you need eyes in the back of your head, mate. That is where you need –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance. This is unhinged. I would ask you to ask the Premier to come back to the question – unhinged!

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Barwon South can leave the chamber for an hour. The Minister for Public Transport can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Barwon South and Minister for Public Transport withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: There was no point of order. The Premier has concluded his answer.