Wednesday, 31 July 2024

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): My question is to the Premier. Yesterday the Premier mistakenly revealed for the first time that allegations relating to poor behaviour and misconduct on government worksites by the CFMEU were ‘nothing new’ and were raised with her ‘from time to time’. When was the first time these allegations were raised?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The Leader of the Opposition referred to comments made by me yesterday in question time that were a repeat of comments I had made on a number of occasions in public commentary I had made on the strong action we are taking to address the rotten culture, working with the federal government to address this issue with the construction division of the CFMEU. As I said yesterday, not for the first time – on a number of previous occasions – and as I made clear in my response to the question from the Leader of the National Party, when allegations have been raised with me, those allegations have been referred to the relevant agency for their response.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to sessional order 11, further to the Manager of Opposition Business’s comments before, I asked a very direct question of the Premier just then as to when the first time was that these other allegations, which were aired for the first time yesterday, were raised. The Premier refused to answer that basic question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was answering in relevance to the question that was asked. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Given the Premier has confirmed allegations of CFMEU misconduct were raised with her repeatedly, how many times have allegations been raised with the Premier?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): As I said yesterday in the house and as I have said previously on the number of occasions I have addressed these matters publicly in response to questions from the media, when allegations have been put to me, those allegations have been referred to the relevant agencies for their action and response.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to the matter I raised with you earlier specific to this response, we have now asked a question and a supplementary. The first question was about when, and then this most recent question was how many times. On neither occasion has the Premier responded. She has responded, respectfully, generally to the topic rather than to the substance of the question. This is making a mockery of question time.

John Pesutto: Further to the Manager of Opposition Business’s point of order, sessional order 11, which the government itself introduced, requires that answers to questions must be direct, factual, succinct and relevant. Speaker, I would respectfully submit that you have the power, as Speaker, to enforce that sessional order.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was relevant to the question that was asked. The Premier has concluded her answer.