Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Nick STAIKOS (Bentleigh – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Local Government) (16:56): I move:

That this house condemns the Leader of the Opposition’s personally appointed representatives for recklessly promoting conspiracy theories and sowing division at a time when Victorians want to be coming together.

Being a leader is about being your authentic true self; it is not about sometimes being left, sometimes being moderate, sometimes being right wing.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Frankston, it is not too late to remove you from the chamber.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, this notice of motion is in the member for Carrum’s name but the member for Bentleigh is now speaking to it. That seems odd. Why is that? Is there a procedural requirement for the member for Carrum to speak to this as it is in the name of the member for Carrum?

The SPEAKER: Ministers are interchangeable, member for Sandringham.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, I ask you to leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Brighton withdrew from chamber.

Nick STAIKOS: Being a leader is about meeting the Victorian people where they are. The Victorian people are moderate people. The Victorian people are not extremists. You cannot pretend you are moderate when you march at Pride and then cosy up to One Nation. You cannot pretend you are moderate when fending off a teal challenge in your electorate of Kew and then cosy up to One Nation, knowing that your leadership is propped up by the most extreme elements of your party. Being a leader is about being authentic. While those opposite dance with extremists, the Allan Labor government is enshrining the right to work from home into law. While those opposite dance with extremists, the Allan Labor government is –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Rowville, it is not too late to remove you from the chamber.

Kim Wells interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for member for Rowville can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Rowville withdrew from chamber.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I understand that this is the member for Carrum’s motion and the member for Bentleigh is now speaking to it –

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order, member for Sandringham?

Brad Rowswell: I wonder if the member for Bentleigh has actually read it, because on relevance –

The SPEAKER: Member for Sandringham, what is your point of order?

Brad Rowswell: It is relevance, because what the member for Bentleigh is speaking to at the minute has nothing to do with notice of motion 4, as I read it.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order.

Nick STAIKOS: While those opposite continuously dance with extremists, it is the Allan Labor government that has introduced 150 rental reforms that have ensured that Victoria is the fairest place in which to rent. While those opposite dance with extremists, it is the Allan Labor government that has built the Metro Tunnel, the biggest transport project since the City Loop. While those opposite dance with extremists, it is the Allan Labor government that is funding our schools, funding our hospitals and making Victoria a fairer place to live. While those opposite dance with extremists, it is the Allan government that is addressing the cost of living by introducing free TAFE and by introducing free kinder. The people of Victoria are moderate people; they are not extremists like those in the Liberal Party. Those in the Liberal Party –

The SPEAKER: Order! The time set down for consideration of items on the government business program has arrived, and I am required to interrupt business. The member will have the call when the house returns to this debate.