Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. How many M Group companies, a business connected to Mick Gatto, are operating on the North East Link project?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:12): That would be information that would be held by the North East Link Authority, which is responsible for delivering this project. Again I repeat: if the Liberal leader has an allegation to make, she should be making it and also making it to Victoria Police if she is –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question to be evasive. The question was very specific, and the Premier is trying not to answer it, rather than dealing with the question that was put to her.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is not debating the question. The Premier was responding to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: In answering the question – and for the benefit of the member for Brighton I will say it again – that information would be held by the delivery authority responsible for delivering the North East Link. Of course let us remember what the North East Link is. The North East Link is another important project that is going to get Victorians home safer and sooner. It is going to support Victorians –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the rules of this house require the Premier to be direct. Is the Premier saying she does not know whether Mick Gatto is on government sites? Is that what the Premier is saying?

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, a point of order is not an opportunity to make a statement to the house. The Premier is being relevant, and she is not debating. She is answering the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: This question again exposes that the Liberal Party have opposed every single one of these projects, and they oppose the workers who work damn hard to deliver them.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, attacking the opposition is clearly debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): Can the Premier guarantee that no M Group company is operating on the North East Link?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:14): For the benefit of the Leader of the Liberal Party, I refer to my earlier answer where I indicated very clearly – and perhaps the interjections from the member for Brighton clouded out what the leader could hear – that I have already answered that question. That is information that is held by the North East Link Authority. We can seek that information from the authority. But again let us be clear: if there is an allegation to make, it should be made, because we are seeing, as a result of the action our government has taken, that Victoria Police, the largest policing force in the nation, have the powers and they are making the arrests and charges. As a result of strengthening the Labour Hire Authority, they have cancelled 147 construction licences and blocked a further 47. This is strong action and it is working.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. The question simply asked if Mick Gatto had contracts on government sites. Yes or no?

The SPEAKER: The member for Brighton knows not to repeat the question in his point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.