Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:23): My question is to the Premier. I refer to a report showing that the Premier miraculously doubled her Instagram following in a single day.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lowan can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Lowan withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: The member for Warrandyte will be heard in silence.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport Infrastructure can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure withdrew from chamber.

Nicole WERNER: My question is to the Premier. I refer to a report showing that the Premier miraculously doubled her Instagram following in a single day.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Laverton can leave the chamber for an hour and a half.

Member for Laverton withdrew from chamber.

Nicole WERNER: My question is to the Premier. I refer to a report showing that the Premier miraculously doubled her Instagram following in a single day. Can the Premier guarantee that no taxpayer funds were spent to purchase fake followers in a vain attempt to boost her popularity?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Roma Britnell interjected.

The SPEAKER: Make that an hour and a half.

Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.

Brad Battin interjected.

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

Member for Berwick withdrew from chamber.

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:25): The Liberal Party are worried about my followers.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet. Members will be silent when I am on my feet, or they will be removed from the chamber. The Premier is to answer the question without assistance. Members will be removed without warning.

Jacinta ALLAN: The Liberal Party are worried about my followers. They should be more worried about the followers they are losing to Pauline Hanson and One Nation.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Cranbourne will come to order. The member for Bulleen will come to order. The Premier will come to order.

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:26): Will the Premier release all correspondence between her office and Meta, outlining the steps –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Yan Yean! Member for Tarneit, I note that you just came back into the chamber. The member for Warrandyte to ask her question without assistance.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Members will come to order. I am on my feet. I am going to allow the member for Warrandyte to ask her question while I am on my feet.

Nicole WERNER: Will the Premier release all correspondence between her office and Meta, outlining the steps she has taken to assure Victorians she is not wasting taxpayers money again?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Narre Warren South will leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Narre Warren South withdrew from chamber.

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:27): I want to be absolutely clear for the benefit of the Liberal Party, the member for Warrandyte and any social media they may be creating out of this moment: no taxpayer funds were expended in this exercise. Let us be clear: there were none. But what we are seeing here from the Liberal Party is that they are more focused on my followers than the Victorian community. They are more focused on social media and outcomes –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Warrandyte!

Jacinta ALLAN: And this question bells the cat. They should be more worried about the mass exodus of followers going to One Nation and Pauline Hanson that are abandoning the Liberal Party – and it is no surprise with performances like this one.