Wednesday, 3 June 2026

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:08): My question is to the Minister for Youth. Victoria’s youth strategy commits the government to ensuring young people are safe, supported and connected with positive role models. Jonny ‘Two Guns’ Walker, former bikie and CFMEU figure and convicted killer, was enlisted to campaign for the minister. Why should young Victorians trust the minister to keep criminal influence away from young people when criminal figures were helping her get elected?

The SPEAKER: I call the Minister for Youth to answer the question as it relates to her portfolio.

 Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit – Minister for Youth, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (14:09): I would like to again thank the member for her question, and I will start with saying that the question is out of my portfolio responsibilities and is best referred to the relevant minister, being criminal activity on worksites. It is a serious issue and it must face the full force of the law. We acted immediately and our plan is working. Police have laid 70 criminal charges.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I am not sure how the minister’s commitment to the youth strategy is not within her portfolio, or who is electioneering on her booths for her.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Luba GRIGOROVITCH: If we want to talk about youth, I want to talk about the $33 million that is being invested in young Victorians in 2026–27. We have engaged 135,000 young people through the Amplify, the Engage! and the Future Ready programs. We have delivered the Victorian Youth Fest 2025, which included 110 youth-led events for over 15,000 young people across the state, with $5.3 million for a new multicultural youth employment program and 28 Scout hall projects delivered since 2018, and we have supported more than 5300 young people.

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:11): As the minister responsible for Victoria’s youth strategy, Minister, what message does it send to young Victorians when the minister responsible for youth is backed not by positive role models but by figures convicted of fatal bashings, like Jonny ‘Two Guns’ Walker?

Anthony Carbines: On a point of order, Speaker, the member is clearly asking for an opinion that is not related to the minister’s portfolio. It is very clearly an opinion.

James Newbury: On the point of order, Speaker, there was at no point in that question a request for an opinion. The question went directly to the government’s policy and the implications, as the minister, of the minister’s actions on that policy.

The SPEAKER: I will allow the question, and I will allow the minister to respond as it relates to her portfolio.

 Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit – Minister for Youth, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (14:12): I reject the premise of the question.