Wednesday, 17 June 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): My question is to the Premier. Does Women in Construction, a company owned by a convicted serial family violence abuser and which has operated on the Big Build, still hold an active labour hire licence?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:10): The advice I have is that this is an active matter currently under investigation by the Labour Hire Authority, who have issued a show cause notice. I will not make any comment that prejudices an investigation to ensure that any allegation of criminal behaviour is appropriately investigated and dealt with. I also remind the house that we have strengthened the Labour Hire Authority’s powers, which is why they have cancelled 150 construction industry licences. For completeness, I note those opposite opposed the establishment of the Labour Hire Authority.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Malvern and the member for Polwarth are warned.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): Given Women in Construction still holds an active labour hire licence, will the Premier admit that the ‘immediate action’ she claimed to have taken last night and the zero tolerance she just said she has for corruption on Big Build sites have in fact not happened at all?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:11): Let me outline to the house how wrong the Leader of the Opposition is in her question. In strengthening the powers of the Labour Hire Authority and in strengthening the powers of Victoria Police, we have seen Victoria Police lay 88 charges and 150 construction industry licences have been cancelled. In terms of the action that we have taken –

Jess Wilson: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this is specifically about Women in Construction. I make available to the house the active labour hire licence for the Premier.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Further to this, we undertook an independent review, which has also established separate whistleblower pathways to protect workers to lodge complaints or claims about alleged behaviour and required construction company bosses to report any allegations –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is being evasive again.

Ben Carroll: On the point of order, Speaker, Rulings from the Chair, page 154:

Relevancy. A minister may answer questions as he or she sees fit …

The Premier can be relevant, providing she sees fit it is relevant. And it is entirely relevant. The Premier has outlined all the actions she has taken, which is what the question was: what action have you taken?

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: I just reiterate that we have zero tolerance for any allegation of criminal behaviour, which is why we have strengthened the authorities’ powers. We have provided new reforms that have seen the culture in workplaces changing, and we will not rest while we support the work of the authorities to change this culture.