Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Has any M Group company linked to Mick Gatto been awarded, subcontracted or engaged to perform works on any Suburban Rail Loop site?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:25): Consistent with my answer to previous questions on this matter, that is information that is held by the relevant delivery authority, and that –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier was the minister.

The SPEAKER: That is not a not a point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, that is information that is held by the relevant delivery agency, and that question is best directed to that delivery agency. But again I say to the house and to the member for Brighton that, if anyone has an allegation to make about the very serious matters around allegations of criminal behaviour on worksites, they need to immediately raise them with the relevant independent investigative body, whether it is Victoria Police or the Labor Hire Authority or the federal police. I make the point again that the strong actions that we have taken are working. Victoria Police are not only laying charges, as recently as an hour ago they released a statement providing details to the Victorian community about additional charges they have laid today.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I asked whether Mick Gatto and his linked company has any work on the Suburban Rail Loop. I did not ask about anything that the Premier is talking about, and I would ask the Premier to come to the actual question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is answering the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was providing further –

James Newbury: On a further point of order, Speaker, the Rulings from the Chair are very clear, and there are a number of rulings from the Chair that a minister cannot respond generally and must deal with the substance of the question. The Premier has not dealt with the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier responded to the question at the outset. Can I just add to that: there are also rulings from the Chair that contradict what the member for Brighton has just raised. Rulings from the Chair cannot be taken selectively. The Premier was answering the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was providing what I would have thought was helpful information for the member for Brighton to demonstrate the fact that the strong action that we have taken to support the largest police force in the nation with additional powers, and through the work they are doing through Taskforce Hawk, is seeing people being arrested and charged as recently as today. We have taken strong action – it is working – because these are very serious matters. They need to be investigated and acted upon immediately. If any member has an allegation to make, they know that through Victoria Police they should be made and they will be acted upon.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:28): Can the Premier confirm after checking and make a public statement that an M Group company linked to Mick Gatto is not working on a Victorian government worksite?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:29): I will refer those matters to the relevant delivery agency. In fact I think I have said that on a number of occasions for the benefit of the member for Brighton, and the member for Brighton, I do not think, was this –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the question I asked was whether the Premier would make a public statement confirming that fact.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. There were two parts to the question. The Premier has answered one. The Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, those matters have been referred to those relevant delivery agencies, and again –

A member interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: Well, I just did during question time, for the benefit of the member for Brighton. But again, these are serious allegations, which is why we have taken immediate action, and that action is working in cleaning up the culture. But again, the agencies that the member for Brighton refers to are responsible for delivering projects that the Victorian community needs, and I want to thank those workers who are delivering these projects. We are proud of what they are delivering. And the message to those workers is that they know that Liberals will cut those projects and cut their wages and only a Labor government will back the work that they do.