Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:14): My question is to the Premier. There are a further four MC Labour companies with active labour hire licences: MC Traffic Management, MCLS, MC Security Services and Advance Labour. Why do these five bikie-linked labour hire companies have labour hire licences?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:14): Again, allegations of criminal behaviour on worksites are a serious matter. Those matters that have been raised by the member for Sandringham need to be put to the Labour Hire Authority, who have the power to act.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:15): According to the Watson report, MC Labour’s operations manager Matt Lunedei formed a bond with bikie Toby Mitchell whilst in prison on aggravated burglary and theft charges. This company gained half a billion dollars of Labor government contracts on the Big Build. Why does the government consider an operation managed by a bikie-linked criminal to be fit to hold a labour hire licence?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): The member for Sandringham referred to a report produced by Geoffrey Watson. I am not wanting to dismiss Mr Watson’s claims, but I must say very clearly that anyone who has evidence, including Mr Watson, of illegal or criminal behaviour on worksites should be referring that to Victoria Police or the other relevant investigative authorities, who have the power to act.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, my question did not invite the Premier to reflect upon Mr Watson. It asked her why the government considers the operation fit to hold a labour hire licence, which is separate to what she was answering.

The SPEAKER: A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: The advice I have from the Minister for Transport Infrastructure is that those entities raised in that report are currently being investigated by the Labour Hire Authority. If the member for Sandringham has anything further to add, he should put it.