Thursday, 3 August 2023

Commonwealth Games

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:38): My question is to the Acting Premier. This morning the Attorney-General recommended that the Deputy Premier should not appear before the select committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Does the Acting Premier agree with the Attorney-General?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:38): As I think I referred to this matter yesterday in this place, how the Legislative Council goes about its business, the committees it sets up and the way it conducts its inquiries is entirely a matter for the Legislative Council. It would be disrespectful to cut across the dealings of the Legislative Council, and I am sure they would agree that it would be disrespectful to cut across our dealings here in the Legislative Assembly. So in that regard, let us wait and see. Let the committee be established and members sit down and work out their forward work plan. At the same time that that goes on, the government will continue with its ongoing legacy investment of $2 billion –

Sam Groth interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Nepean can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Make it 1 hour.

Member for Nepean withdrew from the chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Acting Premier was asked whether the Acting Premier agreed with the Attorney-General’s comments.

The SPEAKER: The Acting Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying – because clearly the member for Brighton is not interested in hearing about the $2 billion of investment that we are making in regional housing – there is $1 billion in regional housing, on top of the $5.23 billion in the Big Housing Build, investing in new community sporting infrastructure and investing in tourism and major events in regional Victoria. These are the priorities that we know regional Victorians care about. These are the reasons why we agreed to the games in the first place, and we are going straight to get on and deliver those legacy benefits.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast is warned.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): The Deputy Premier has previously stated:

… I’m not one to cut and run when challenges get hard …

Why has the Deputy Premier chosen to cut and run by refusing to confirm that she will appear before the select committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you have asked a question. Assistant Treasurer!

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:41): Looking at the faces of those opposite, there are a few who would wish someone else would cut and run, in a big hurry!

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, in the same way that I –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: This is not an opportunity for the Acting Premier to be nasty. I would ask you to bring the Deputy Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Acting Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Speaker, I have answered the member’s question. I have answered the member’s question in the substantive question that he asked. I have got nothing further to add to that question, other than where have the two Brads been this week, Speaker? Where are the two Brads?

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Deputy Premier is defying your ruling and is continuing to show how nasty she can be.

The SPEAKER: The Acting Premier has concluded her answer.