Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. A letter sent to the Premier in 2022 by an Indigenous labour hire firm raised criminal behaviour by CFMEU officials. Victoria Police have now arrested and charged one of the CFMEU officials who engaged in the criminal behaviour described in the letter. Why did the Premier assert on 30 July 2024 that this letter ‘did not contain allegations of criminal behaviour’?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): As the Leader of the Opposition has referenced, I have addressed this matter previously in this place. There was correspondence from Marda Dandhi, the company that raised allegations of a broad range of potentially unethical and unlawful behaviour, and this was correspondence that was sent to a number of different members of Parliament and organisations. That matter in my context – the entirety of that correspondence – as I have outlined to the house previously, was referred to the MTIA –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this question was very, very specific, and I ask you to bring the Premier on relevance back to dealing with the actual question. The Premier is avoiding answering that very specific question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was referring to a letter that was in the preamble to the question. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was part way through giving the information I have previously provided to the house on this matter, these allegations were referred to what was then the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, also reinforcing the government’s expectations around all organisations operating to the highest standards of lawful and ethical behaviour. As we have now seen, Victoria Police have responded to those allegations and are now investigating those allegations, and it would be inappropriate to cut across those investigations.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): When asked about the 2022 letter sent to her by an Indigenous labour hire firm, the Premier told this house on 30 July:

The allegation that was put to me in that correspondence did not contain allegations of criminal behaviour.

Given that Victoria Police have now arrested and charged the CFMEU official referred to in the letter, will the Premier apologise for misleading both the Victorian people and this house?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:16): I have answered this question previously. When these allegations were made they were referred to the appropriate authority for their response.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is being evasive again. The question asked specifically went to statements the Premier made to this house. They are very, very serious, and they are contradicted by Victoria Police’s subsequent action. It is only reasonable that the Premier deal with that specific question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier addressed the question in saying that she has previously addressed the question in other answers.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the reference you just made in relation to the Premier’s previous statement is the misleading statement which is the subject of the question. We are asking about that substance because the Premier has misled this house.

The SPEAKER: It is not for me to determine whether the Premier has misled the house or not. The Premier has concluded her answer.