Tuesday, 12 August 2025

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. In 2021 the Victorian Institute of Teaching refused the application of Vi Tran because of her uncontrolled and aggressive language and conduct that resulted in multiple students being emotionally affected, including suffering from anxiety, confusion, anger, exacerbated social anxiety and/or fear. Why did the government prevent this individual from becoming an early learning teacher but approve her to run an early learning centre?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:02): In acknowledging the Leader of the Opposition’s question and his outlining of some specific circumstances, I reiterate what I have said previously: that it is absolutely clear – and I have been consistent since Victoria Police first publicly reported on the investigation that they are conducting into the most horrific allegations of sexual abuse ‍– that the system needs to be strengthened, which is why we are taking action to strengthen the system with the work that the Minister for Children is already taking in terms of introducing to Victoria, not waiting for the national arrangements to be in place, the registration of staff who work in the early childhood area. There are already, from the advice I have from the minister, many thousands of people now on that register. There is also the work that is being undertaken with the rapid review, and I have been clear that if changes need to be made they will be made.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is required to be direct and relevant. This was noting a specific case. I would ask you to ask the Premier to come back to answering the specific case in the question.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the Premier how to answer the question, but I do remind the Premier that it was a very direct question. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Why did the Victorian government allow this individual to keep a working with children check?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:04): Again, we have been clear that the system needs to be strengthened and specifically in regard to the working with children check, which was –

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, this is a very, very direct question about an individual who continued to have a working with children check in Victoria after these allegations. Can the Premier please direct her answer directly to the question we have asked?

The SPEAKER: There are protocols in this place about how to raise a point of order.

Mary-Anne Thomas: Speaker, there is no point of order, and the Leader of the Opposition should know that a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier had been on her feet for 11 seconds, and 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 do not uphold the point of order, but I do ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: In referring to the working with children check, that is why in the work that has already been undertaken, through the work that was commissioned in April to review the system, there have been strengthened arrangements with the worker-screening unit to ensure that the unit has access to a broader range of regulators and the decisions that those regulators are taking in regard to particular individuals who work across not just the early childhood sector –

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, standing order 58 requires that the Premier be direct in answering the question. The Premier is talking in broad terms here and not actually answering the question of the Leader of the Opposition directly.

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

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, we are strengthening the arrangements for the worker-screening unit to cover a broader range of regulators, and that involves not just people working in the early childhood setting but all people across the working with children check regime.

The SPEAKER: I remind members not to reflect on the Speaker.