Thursday, 19 February 2026

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:03): My question is to the Premier. Why is the Premier bullying journalists who are –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, it is not a good start to question time for you. The Manager of Opposition Business on a question without assistance.

James NEWBURY: Why is the Premier bullying journalists who are asking legitimate questions about the worst corruption scandal in Victorian history?

The SPEAKER: I ask the Manager of Opposition Business to phrase his question so that it relates to government business.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Eureka can leave the chamber for an hour. The member for Tarneit can leave the chamber for an hour. I will not tolerate this level of disruption in the chamber.

Members for Eureka and Tarneit withdrew from chamber.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, with respect to your direction to the Manager of Opposition Business, how is this not a matter of government business when the Premier is giving a press conference on the Parliament grounds?

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Nationals, I have ruled on the point of order. I have given the Manager of Opposition Business a chance to rephrase his question.

Members interjecting.

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

Member for Laverton withdrew from chamber.

James Newbury interjected.

The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, I will eject you from the chamber as well. Through the Chair, on your question.

James NEWBURY: Why is the Premier refusing to answer legitimate questions from journalists about the worst corruption scandal in Victoria’s history?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): To assist both the member for Brighton and the house, I am not just happy to answer the question. I at the outset, in answering the question, will absolutely reject the premise of the question and the baseless allegations that have been put in the question. It gives me an opportunity to reflect, in being relevant to the subject matter that has been asked, that this is a bit much coming from someone whose party bullied their former deputy leader right out of the place. The member for Nepean could not put up with the bullying in his own party room, so he cut and ran. It is a bit much.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the way the Premier is going is not remotely relevant to the question. I ask you to bring her back to it.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, you did in fact rule the question in order and indeed the Premier is being relevant to the question. She has also rejected the premise of the question. As you know, the Premier is then able to address the question in the way that she sees fit.

James Newbury: On the point of order, Speaker, the Premier cannot debate the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I said at the outset, I reject the basis of the question. We have programs in our schools to develop, in our youngest Victorians, respectful relationships. Safe Schools is a program that has been opposed by those opposite. I am not going to take lectures on this from an outfit that bullied out their first woman leader of their federal party. The first woman leader of their federal party was bullied out of the job.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: The Premier answered the question at the outset by rejecting the premise of the question. The Premier is entitled to answer how she wishes now.

Jacinta ALLAN: I will finish with this: we will not stand by and let workers’ wages be threatened and bullied and cut by those opposite. That is what this is all about – a Liberal outfit that is all about wanting to cut workers’ wages and cut the protections for workers on worksites.

Members interjecting.

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

Member for Warrandyte withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: They want to cut the important occupational health and safety protections for workers on worksites. I am proud to be part of a movement that has fought hard for a very, very long time to see workers protected from these sorts of behaviours on worksites around the country.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:08): The Premier has said workers should not experience abuse, including bullying, in the workplace. Why hasn’t the Premier’s own behaviour, when refusing to answer questions about government worksites, lived up to the standard her own government policy sets?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:09): You are very pleased, aren’t you, member for Brighton, because you would never bully people on polling booths now, would you? The member for Brighton would never bully people on polling booths now, would he – people who might be a little bit unwell? No, the member for Brighton would not have any of that behaviour reported by journalists now, would he?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Premier and the member for Brighton will cease having a conversation across the table.

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is not being relevant and I ask you to bring her back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Premier, come back to the question, through the Chair.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I said at the outset, in rejecting the premise of the question from the member for Brighton, he was asking a question that went to standards around members of Parliament, and I was merely reminding him of his own behaviour and standards, which he does not seem to uphold. But he is prepared to come in here and lecture others. Let us remember what is at the heart of this: a Labor government and a labour movement that are all about backing workers and supporting workers on worksites, and those opposite want to cut wages and cut protections for workers across this state.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Nationals is warned. The member for Bulleen is warned.