Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Melbourne medically supervised injecting facility

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is to the Premier. When will the Premier release the Ken Lay report relating to the medically supervised injecting room in Melbourne’s CBD?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:04): I can advise the Leader of the Opposition, as I advised Richard Willingham as he interviewed me in this place for an ABC interview about three weeks ago, which was subsequently broadcast on the ABC, that it is the government’s intention to release the Ken Lay report. We will release that report once the government has had the appropriate opportunity to consider the report. In anticipation of the murmurings of those opposite, I do note that this is a report that has been in the hands of the government for a number of months. However, I do point –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58(1)(a), the answer does have to be factual. The Premier said a couple of months when it has been nine.

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

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was indicating to the house, the government has had the report for some time. I will note that –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The house will come to order. The Premier without assistance.

Jacinta ALLAN: Given the substance of the report and the serious nature of this report, and noting too that since the government received the report there have been a change of Premier and minister and a number of other portfolio changes subsequent to that I felt it was appropriate, out of respect to both the author of the report and the subject matter of the report, that there was the appropriate time taken to consider the report and to receive advice on the report. I can make this commitment to the Leader of the Opposition and indeed the house: when we make a decision as a cabinet we will announce that decision as soon as possible after that decision has been made. We will not sit on a critical decision for months. We have not –

Members interjecting.

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

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier to resume answering the question. The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker. As I was indicating, the member asked when the report would be released. I am indicating to the Leader of the Opposition and to the house more broadly that the report will be released once the government has made a decision on the subject matter contained in the report, and I was reiterating the importance of, once a decision is made, it being as soon as possible that it is announced to the community. We will not be sitting and keeping in secret –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Exactly. This subject matter deserves better than this from the Leader of the Opposition.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Yan Yean, it was not you. Next time it will be.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): What is the total cost to taxpayers for the Ken Lay report?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Sunbury! Order! Leader of the Opposition, once you have asked your question I would hope you would give the Premier the courtesy of silence while she answers.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:09): The details around the process and the work that Ken – and can I also take the opportunity to thank Ken Lay for the work he has done. He has done this work on behalf of the Victorian community on a subject matter that deserves better than this from the Leader of the Opposition. We will release our decision once that decision has been made, with the report that has been undertaken by Ken Lay.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, according to the standing orders the Premier must be succinct. I ask her to respond to the question put: how much did the Lay report cost?

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I look forward to the Leader of the Opposition practising what he preaches on disclosure and transparency around decision-making and money that is in his pocket.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is clearly not being relevant and is just being nasty.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.