Tuesday, 17 February 2026

 Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (14:45): As I was saying before we went to question time, the people of Victoria have every single right to ask why we are not debating today where their money has gone, where the money they have paid in tax to the government has gone – the $15 billion that has been funnelled into criminal activities with the tunnel.

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (14:45): I am very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute on the government business program, acknowledging that there is a lot of work going on here in our Parliament. I am so pleased and proud, as always, to be able to participate in debates and make contributions on the important bills. I did want to reflect that at the very beginning of the day – it does seem like a while ago, but it was actually only a couple of hours ago – we were able to consider the messages from the Legislative Council on the important legislation that has passed in that place as well, deep and considered contributions having already been made in this chamber. So much work is going on to pass important legislation.

This week of course, as in every week when we have an Allan Labor government, there is a lot to consider. We are going to be considering legislation from our very hardworking Minister for Energy and Resources. How many pieces of legislation have been brought to this Parliament from the Minister for Energy and Resources I am not sure, but I will make a mental note to go and find out. Once again we have legislation that goes to the very heart of making sure that our energy system is fit for purpose and that we are able to have a resilient network. In my community there is, as I know there is in yours, Speaker, a total fire ban. There is still so much work that is going on after the extraordinary bushfires and the recovery that is part of that. As part of that we do need to make sure that we are continuing to have a resilient network, and the Energy and Other Legislation Amendment (Resilience Reforms and Other Matters) Bill 2026 will consider the work that needs to be done by the energy sector to assist the state to replace coal as it is retired and place control of transmission planning back into the state’s hands.

Our very hardworking Minister for Children, Ms Blandthorn in the other place, has brought another important piece of legislation for our consideration. This legislation speaks to the absolute primary responsibility we have to look after our most vulnerable. The Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Supporting Stable and Strong Families) Bill 2025 looks to some of the state’s most vulnerable children, particularly children in the child protection system. The minister has had a laser light focus on ensuring that we take a whole-of-government approach, and that does mean that we have responsibilities across many spheres of government, including the Chief Commissioner of Police, ministers and other department heads, to ensure that our Stable and Strong Families scheme does have a focus on making sure that our young people, but particularly, as I said, those who are in the child protection system, have the best care possible. It gives me an opportunity to thank, in this context, our educators, who I know in so many ways are the first line of defence and are the ones who are often heightened in making sure that our children, youth and families amendment legislation is enacted in a way that is in the best interests of those children in the child protection system.

Finally, this week we have the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025. That legislation does of course consider changes across government. The bill offers sensible measures to responsibly reduce spending, unlike the types of cuts that those opposite would deliver if they were given the opportunity. The Liberal–National–One Nation coalition, if given the opportunity, would, as we know, cut to the bone. It is part of the DNA of those opposite. The bill that will be before us, the entities legislation amendment bill, by contrast will ensure that we do take a measured and responsible approach across government.

That means making sure that any duplication is considered – any changes to advisory bodies or those other bodies that are being duplicated and replicated across government – and that we do have a look at what can be done sustainably so that our community can continue to function, with government services absolutely supporting those that need them, but not being irrational and having the consequences that would happen if those opposite were able to get control.

 Chris CREWTHER (Mornington) (14:50): I rise to speak on the government business program. Once again, as outlined as well by the member for Brighton earlier, we have a program that reflects a Labor government more focused on tidying up political risk and distracted rather than doing what Victorians need most and owning up to where they have gone wrong. This week it is impossible to separate this program before the house from what Victorians have learned about more corruption and the distorted culture within the CFMEU and others within the framework of this Labor government. We have seen intimidation, criminality and more which has been allowed to fester. While this government asks Parliament to wave through several changes this week, including more reductions of independent scrutiny, Victorians have had to waste $15 billion of taxpayer money – that is $15 billion of hard-earned money paid to this government by taxpayers – which has been ripped out of their pockets by corrupt CFMEU overlords, enabled by a negligent and permissive Labor government, with the Labor Party benefiting from this corruption and being silent.

On the legislation itself before us this week, I will start with the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.

Sarah Connolly: On a point of order, Speaker, you would think after almost four years in this place that the member for Mornington would understand the rules of the government business program. I ask you to draw his attention back to the program that is before the house and that we are talking about this afternoon.

The SPEAKER: Member for Laverton, please raise your point of order succinctly. The member for Mornington to come back to the government business program before the house.

Chris CREWTHER: I will continue talking about the entities bill, which is part of the government business program this week. In this bill, most concerning are measures that reduce independent oversight. Firstly, the bill pares back the role of the Essential Services Commission in areas that directly affect household costs, including rate capping and pricing oversight –

The SPEAKER: Member for Mornington, I ask you not to go into the detail of the bill.

Chris CREWTHER: Indeed, Speaker. Removing the independent umpire increases the risk of lobbying and weakens specialist scrutiny. I note that with this bill, which members will speak about this week, it is especially concerning given the total failures of oversight we have seen this week, with $15 billion of taxpayer funds spent on lap dances, strippers and more. That is about $5,000 per taxpayer, which the Labor government obviously does not want to hear about –

Mathew Hilakari: On a point of order, Speaker – relevance.

The SPEAKER: I would ask you to come back to the government business program once again, member for Mornington.

Chris CREWTHER: It is of course important to contrast these bills with what is happening in this state at the moment. Now I want to move to –

The SPEAKER: Member for Mornington, this is the government business program. You need to speak to the government business program.

Chris CREWTHER: Now I want to turn to the Energy and Other Legislation Amendment (Resilience Reforms and Other Matters) Bill 2026. The government has been unwilling to be transparent about the cost impacts on consumer bills. Members who will be speaking on this bill and debating this bill this week will be talking about provisions that risk weakening planning and environmental safeguards through transitional shortcuts, and members will speak about program changes being advanced without key reviews being publicly released, fuelling the impression of policy being made on the run. This is at a time of rising cost-of-living pressures and a government that has made them even worse by cutting services and raising taxes. And then we find out, as mentioned before, that they have totally wasted $15 billion. The last bill that is before us this week –

Mathew Hilakari: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, if he cannot speak to it, he should sit down.

The SPEAKER: Member for Point Cook, it is not your position to tell the Speaker how to rule on another member. Member for Mornington, come back to the government business program.

Chris CREWTHER: Now we move to the last bill that is part of this government business program this week, the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Supporting Stable and Strong Families) Bill 2025. This is a bill which is about vulnerable children in the child protection system, their families and care leavers, recognising that outcomes are shaped across housing, health, education and justice, not just child protection. This is at the same time that this government is leaving vulnerable children in their cars on our foreshores and elsewhere, such as on the Mornington Peninsula in the electorates of Nepean and Mornington, which have the highest rate of rough sleeping in the state. (Time expired)

Assembly divided on motion: