Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. The Premier failed to make a referral to IBAC until mid-2024 on corruption and misconduct on the Big Build. Given she has admitted to receiving a briefing as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and was repeatedly warned by her senior infrastructure official, why did the Premier wait until mid-2024 to make a sham referral to IBAC?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): I reject the characterisation put by the Leader of the Opposition. Allegations of criminal activity on worksites are a serious issue and allegations of misconduct on worksites are a serious issue, which is why we have taken strong action, whether it is Victoria Police with extra powers and resources laying 70 charges, whether it is the Labour Hire Authority –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on the issue of debating the question, I seek your guidance. Every day the Premier is asked specific questions and reads talking points rather than dealing with the substance of the question. On debating the question, there must be a link to the actual question in the answer, rather than pulling out a word as some kind of faux response.

The SPEAKER: The Premier answered the question at the outset, from my memory.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was outlining to the house, we have taken strong action. We have given those investigative agencies the powers they need. Police are laying 70 charges. The Labour Hire Authority is cancelling construction licences. Also we commissioned a review and are implementing all recommendations of that review, which is seeing a dedicated complaints pathway being put in place. The culture is changing. We have changed the law as well.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: We have. We banned bikies on worksites and those with criminal associations. The Leader of the Opposition referred to previous actions I took. I did write to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, as has been previously reported. Two years ago I did write to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police when allegations were raised with me.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question asked why the Premier delayed – sat on these issues – for a year.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): It has been revealed today that in 2023 the CFMEU action resulted in workers being banned from jobs unless they met the CFMEU’s demands. How can the Premier claim she only became aware of widespread issues on the Big Build in mid-2024?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:06): The Leader of the Opposition has made some claims in her question, and I will leave it for her to explain where she has sourced that information from, because if you have got evidence, put it to the investigative agencies who have got the powers and the resources to investigate these sorts of allegations.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Premier for a ministers statement, I would like to acknowledge in the gallery the Deputy Premier of Queensland the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP.