Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:08): My question is to the Premier. Geoffrey Watson stated in his report that on the Big Build women were required to ‘offer sexual services’ to a labour hire operator in order to obtain employment. Under the Victorian law this may be sexual assault or even rape. What action has the Premier taken since the release of the Watson report to ensure that no sexual assault is taking place on Big Build sites?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:09): Consistent with my answer to the previous question, these reports are sickening, and I reiterate that every worker deserves the right to be safe in their workplace, which is why I have acted to provide workers on construction sites with a confidential pathway to be able to raise issues, knowing that there is an obligation through that pathway on the people they are reporting that to for that to be investigated. The member for Lowan refers to information that was put in the public domain last week by a particular individual. If this individual holds this information, it should be referred. It should have already been referred to Victoria Police. This is information –

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question went to what the Premier has done to keep women safe as opposed to other individuals of the community.

The SPEAKER: Member for Lowan, I ask you not to repeat the question in your point of order.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, the Premier was being entirely relevant to the question. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: This was information given through a process in Queensland. This information that was put forward contains some of the worst, most sickening allegations of behaviour on worksites. That should have been already referred to the relevant investigative bodies. Victoria Police right now has the powers to investigate those allegations because they are a crime.

Emma Kealy: On a further point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier was the minister at the time who had oversight of this. What has she done?

The SPEAKER: I ask you to raise points of order according to the standing orders. It is not an opportunity to make a statement to the house.

Jacinta ALLAN: I reiterate the statement by the administrator, who was appointed under federal law to address this rotten culture. I reiterate his statement last week when allegations like this were being made in the public domain: anyone who holds this information should be immediately referring it to the relevant law enforcement agency, and in the case of allegations on Victorian worksites that agency is Victoria Police because these allegations contain references to things that are a crime in this state. Victoria Police, as evidenced by the work they are doing through Taskforce Hawk, is charging people, arresting people and ensuring that these allegations are being followed through. Allegations should not be withheld from law enforcement agencies if individuals hold this information.

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:12): Will the Premier guarantee that there is no sexual assault taking place on Big Build sites?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:12): As I have already indicated to the house, we have ensured that there is a pathway for people who want to make these complaints and allegations and who have concerns about what they are seeing on worksites – a confidential pathway to be able to make these allegations and to lodge these complaints – and there is a requirement that they are investigated. It is my commitment to workers on Victorian construction sites that you will have a confidential pathway, in recognising that workers do need to be protected, because that is what we do on this side of the house. We support workers rights. We support them to be paid properly. We support them to be safe at work. We most certainly do not want to go after them and claw back their wages and conditions, like those opposite want to do.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker: debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.