Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Transport infrastructure

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The minister personally met with former CFMEU boss, convicted criminal and friend of the Premier John Setka on 10 April 2024. What did the minister discuss with Mr Setka?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:34): I meet with various representatives of the construction industry, be it employers or trade union representatives. The reality is that construction sites are –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question asked what the minister discussed when he met with John Setka. I understand why he does not want to answer it, but that was the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister had just commenced his answer, but I do ask him to come back to the question.

Danny PEARSON: I meet with trade unions and I meet with employers. The reality is the construction sector has some of the most dangerous worksites in the state. If you look at the construction sector, it accounts for 13.9 per cent of workplace injuries and 18.2 per cent of workplace fatalities.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, could you ask the minister to come back to the question? The minister is refusing to do anything other than talk about the general issue.

The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, I did ask the minister to come back to the question that was asked. He has still got 2 minutes and 30 seconds to answer the question.

Danny PEARSON: I meet with various representatives, and these matters are disclosed in the normal way, including the purpose of the meeting. That is publicly available on the public record.

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:35): On 9 May an adviser from the minister’s office attended a meeting with 10 asphalt contractors and the CFMEU, where allegations of misconduct were raised with the minister’s staff. On what date did the staff member inform the minister of these allegations?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:36): The meeting that the member refers to involved representatives of the AWU, not the CFMEU, and subsequent to that meeting those matters were raised with me by my staffer.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the question was: when were they raised with the minister? This is just an outrageous abuse, all day, in evading the questions.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question. The minister was relevant to the question. The minister has concluded his answer.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, it is a requirement of the house that ministers are factual in their responses. The minister has stated this was not a meeting with the CFMEU. It is clear through the ministerial diaries that have been published that multiple members of the CFMEU were present. I therefore ask you to invite the minister to correct the record.

The SPEAKER: I am not in a position to determine whether an answer is factual or not.