Tuesday, 18 March 2025

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Yesterday the Premier announced a new operation, Operation Hawk, and stated it was being ‘immediately established’. Victoria Police just hours later confirmed Operation Hawk has been running for nine months. Why did the Premier mislead Victorians?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): In thanking the member for Gippsland South for his question I can confirm yesterday that the police minister and I were briefed by the acting Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, and the acting Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police did advise us of Operation Hawk and how it was going to be newly expanded with a renewed focus on the allegations that were raised on Sunday and provided with more resources.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Just as I asked for members to have some respect when the member for Evelyn was on her feet, I expect the same for other members as well.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order on the question of relevance, Speaker, there is a difference between established and expanded.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:14): Operation Hawk has been ongoing for nine months, yet criminal activity and corruption on government Big Build sites continue. When will the Premier end the media spin and tackle the corruption and criminal activity that is leading to taxpayer money ending up in the pockets of organised crime?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): This does provide me with an opportunity to remind the member for Gippsland South that Victoria Police, as the independent operational agency in this state, have responsibility and powers and tools and resources, all backed by this government, to investigate criminal behaviour. If the member for Gippsland South wants to come in here and criticise Victoria Police for their actions, that is on the member for Gippsland South.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, the Premier is clearly debating the question, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was not debating the question, the Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: And there is no debate. Those of us on this side of the house will respect the operational independence of Victoria Police, and indeed we will go further. We will back them with the tools and the resources and the powers they need, and that is exactly what we are doing. If the member for Gippsland South has allegations of criminal behaviour –

Danny O’Brien interjected.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Nationals, you asked your question. I ask you to cease the commentary.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, there are criminals on government worksites today. On relevance, it was very narrow: when will the Premier end the spin?

Mary-Anne Thomas: Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier is being relevant to the question. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order and let the Premier get on with answering the question.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the Premier how to answer the question. The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I remind the member for Gippsland South that we put legislation through this place and through the Parliament last year to ban from prescribed government worksites members of organised crime groups. That is just one of many actions we are taking with zero tolerance for this behaviour.