Friday, 14 November 2025

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (10:09): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the member for Werribee for dismissing and trivialising community concerns about Victoria’s growing crime crisis, stating that ‘The issue is … too important to … post all over Facebook or call up 3AW and whinge about.’

Leave refused.

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (10:09): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the member for Werribee for dismissing and trivialising community concerns about Victoria’s growing crime crisis, stating that he sees bluster on Facebook –

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leave is not granted, member for Caulfield.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I ask you to seek advice from the Clerk that we can still read the motion into the house. You cannot just stifle debate every time the Liberals raise something about the member for Werribee when he is performing so badly and calling out his community for whingeing about crime.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: On the point of order, leave can be not granted at any time during the motion by leave, and ‘No’ was heard. Leave is not granted.

David Southwick: On a further point of order, surely the house cannot be running a protection racket for the member for Werribee, who clearly does not care about crime.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have ruled on that point of order. It was not a point of order.

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! People can be elsewhere.

Brad Rowswell: On a further point of order, Deputy Speaker, I just make the observation very briefly that if that is the precedent that the government wish to set when they are in government, I would counsel them and say that it is a dangerous precedent to set.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The ruling that I made is well versed in Rulings from the Chair, which I am sure the Clerk is looking at right now.

Michael O’Brien: On a further point of order, Deputy Speaker, I would ask perhaps for you and the Speaker to consider Rulings from the Chair and whether that is a ruling which should be maintained in the future, because I do see there is the prospect for any member of this house to shut down any other member of this house moving any motion by leave as soon as they get to their feet. It would be possible for any member to simply say no the minute that any member in this house gets to their feet to seek to ask anything by leave. That has the grave potential to shut down debate in this house in a way which I am sure not only would be detrimental to democracy but also could turn this house into a farce –

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Tarneit, 10 minutes.

Member for Tarneit withdrew from chamber.

Michael O’Brien: because if that is the way in which members of the government or any party wish to act, then obviously that would lead to repercussions. Given that the previous ruling from the Chair has now been applied by the government to simply prevent members as soon as they get to their feet by saying that, I do think that it is a ruling that should be reconsidered by the Deputy Speaker and by the Speaker in light of its recent use, or abuse, by members of the government.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not necessarily a point of order. That ruling has been made over this term of Parliament before. It is not the first time. I listened to the member for Malvern. I would encourage him or the Manager of Opposition Business to speak to the Speaker outside of the chamber, should they wish to have that debate.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (10:13): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the member for Bentleigh for his hypocrisy in supporting the Premier’s crime slogans despite previously saying, ‘But we have got to be realistic about this. Very few people in this state are incarcerated permanently. The solution is to make those young offenders decent adults.’

Leave refused.

 Jess WILSON (Kew) (10:13): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the Treasurer of Victoria and the former Attorney-General for stating on 5 October, ‘No, mate. There is not a youth crime crisis.’

Leave refused.

 Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (10:14): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the member for Eureka for stating that –

Leave refused.

 Chris CREWTHER (Mornington) (10:14): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the member for Hastings for his hypocrisy in supporting members –

Leave refused.

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (10:14): I move, by leave:

That this house condemns the Minister for Environment and member for Oakleigh for stating on 17 October –

Leave refused.