Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon) (10:25): In other great news for Daylesford, along with Minister Settle, the member for Eureka, we have worked together to ensure that kids from Ballan are now zoned to Daylesford College. What this means is a strong future for that school, one that this government has invested more than $10 million in and indeed successive Labor governments have effectively rebuilt from the ground up. So, great news for everyone at Daylesford. We are investing in what matters for Victorians, making sure that Victoria truly is the Education State. Again, I look forward to spending more time in Daylesford.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The time for making statements has concluded. Before we move on, I find myself having to remind the house about the use of unparliamentary language. The words ‘lie’, ‘lying’ and ‘liar’ are unparliamentary – from Speaker Smith 2011 and Speaker Edwards 2022.

James Newbury interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Without assistance, member for Brighton. The quicker we get through this, the better. There is a longstanding practice. For example, in 1967 the Deputy Speaker noted that the word ‘liar’ was unparliamentary. Any variation of the word ‘lying’ when used about members, such as ‘telling lies’, ‘lied’ or ‘liar’, is unparliamentary – from speakers Smith and Edwards as mentioned. The reason for this is because it is a matter of a breach of privilege to accuse a member of deliberately misleading the house, which a lie would be. If the house wishes for these rules to change, then the appropriate place would be the Standing Orders Committee, and that can be taken up there. Until then, the rules are the rules and will be appreciated should they be upheld.