Tuesday, 2 June 2026

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:55): My question is to the honourable Premier. Why is the Premier gaslighting Victorians by pretending she is acting on corruption when her announcement yesterday delays IBAC follow-the-money powers for a further 18 months, until after the election?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:56): This question substantially mirrors the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Therefore my answer will be consistent with that that I gave earlier to the house. We are delivering the most wideranging changes to IBAC since it was established in 2012.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, if it assists, this question asked why the Premier was delaying taking any action for 18 months. The previous question was why three months ago the Premier did not vote for the IBAC laws. They are two very different questions.

The SPEAKER: The question was about gaslighting. It was not the question that you just put on the point of order.

Anthony Carbines: Speaker, in relation to the point of order, it is quite clear that on the word salad from the member for Caulfield the Premier was being absolutely relevant.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: I draw the member’s attention to the information I provided in my answer earlier. We are delivering these wideranging reforms. We are immediately establishing a reference group. That work will be undertaken carefully and with deep consideration. It will involve advice from experts and stakeholders in this field, because these are serious matters. In supporting the recommendations that have been put by the committee, those recommendations include follow-the-money powers. I remind the member for Caulfield that we have recommended to the expert reference group that that should be retrospective, but I also draw the member for Caulfield’s attention to the point that these powers also intersect with recommendation 1, which is expanding the definition of ‘corrupt conduct’, something the Liberal Party do not support.

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:58): Isn’t it the case that the Premier has kicked the IBAC follow-the-money powers into the long grass because it would expose Labor’s corruption before an election?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:58): No.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for South-West Coast, this is your last warning.