Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. There are a further two companies linked to Mick Gatto that hold a labour hire licence today: M1 Security Services and M1 Traffic Control Goulburn Valley. Why has the Premier failed to take any action against them?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:11): The member’s question has a reference in it that is incorrect. As I have said earlier today in the house and on previous occasions, the Labour Hire Authority has the powers it needs to both undertake these investigations and take action. If there are allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour, the Labour Hire Authority has the powers and it is taking action.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question simply asked whether and why two companies still had licences. The Premier is debating that.

The SPEAKER: I know the question, member for Brighton. It is in front of me. The Premier was not debating. The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: I reject the invitation by the opposition to interfere with the independent investigations of independent investigative bodies. That is what the Liberal Party want us to do. We reject that approach. The approach we are taking is supporting those investigative bodies with more powers and more resources, and that action is working – Victoria Police making arrests and charges as recently as yesterday and the Labour Hire Authority cancelling licences and blocking others. If there is further information to be provided to these independent investigative bodies, I would invite those opposite to make that information available to those organisations because they not only have the power to act but are doing so.

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:13): The nominated officer for M1 Security Services’ labour hire licence is one Stephen Kyriacou. In 2022 Mr Kyriacou was banned from managing licensed premises after a woman was found dead in the basement of Dreams Gentlemen’s Club. Her cause of death was multidrug toxicity. Why does the Premier consider Mr Kyriacou to be a fit and proper person to hold a labour hire licence?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:14): This question says a lot about the Liberal Party. I reject the allegation that the member for Sandringham has made in his question. The Labour Hire Authority and Victoria Police have the powers they need to investigate individuals like the member for Sandringham has referred to. They have the powers to test the fit and proper person test that has been provided to the Labour Hire Authority.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, the question was quite specific. The Premier is debating the question. I have asked why she considers Mr Kyriacou to be a fit and proper person to hold a labour hire licence.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is responding to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Perhaps the member for Sandringham did not hear the start of the answer to the question. Not only do I reject that claim, I do not. Further to that, the Labour Hire Authority has the powers it needs, as evidenced by the actions it is taking to deal with these issues. If the member for Sandringham has any further allegations to make, he should be making them to the Labour Hire Authority, who have the tools and powers they need.