Family violence
Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (15:08): My question is to the honourable Premier. The Minister for Youth has provided six references to individuals of poor character, including at least one sexual offender and a man convicted of domestic violence. Does the Premier have confidence in a minister who believes sex and domestic violence offenders are of good character?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (15:09): I refer the member for Warrandyte to the minister’s statement that she released yesterday on this matter, where she has already acknowledged that she should not have provided those references, has apologised for that and did so because she was not aware of their backgrounds. In answer to the second part of the member’s question, I have confidence in all of my ministers.
Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (15:09): Given the government continues to allow a labour hire firm run by a domestic violence abuser to run rampant on Big Build sites, aren’t Victorians entitled to conclude that this Premier and her government are totally disinterested in protecting victims of domestic violence?
Anthony Carbines: On a point of order, Speaker, I do not see the relevance or the connection to the substantive question.
The SPEAKER: It is a very tenuous link, member for Warrandyte, between the main question and your supplementary question. I will allow it.
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (15:10): In rejecting the member for Warrandyte’s question, I draw the house’s attention to our very proud record as a government of doing more than any other jurisdiction in this nation, from holding the Royal Commission into Family Violence to investing billions of dollars to reform and change the system, to giving police more powers, to protecting victims, to strengthening information sharing and also to introducing important preventative measures like the Respectful Relationships program in our schools – which so many of those opposite continue to deride and belittle – making a fundamental difference.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is again being tricky and debating the question.
Jacinta ALLAN: Again I am reminded by my colleagues that those royal commission recommendations on family violence were not all supported by the Liberal Party. It has taken our Labor government to fundamentally reform the system. There is more work to do, and only a Labor government will do it.