Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. A June 2023 brief to the then minister warned that issues on Big Build project sites included ‘a concern that industrial issues are erroneously being portrayed as safety issues, with little engagement or assistance provided by WorkSafe’. When the Premier assumed responsibility for WorkSafe, what action did he take to stop the CFMEU weaponising safety claims on taxpayer-funded construction sites?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (14:13): Today we have announced a royal commission that will have exhaustive terms of reference that will deal with all these –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this robotic answer does not go to the question.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, I reject that. It is not a point of order.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Premier had only just commenced his answer.

Colin Brooks: On a separate point of order, Speaker, the member for Brighton quoted from a document, and I ask him to make it available to the house.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier to answer the question.

Ben CARROLL: He is not very transparent when he does not want to be, is he? What I have announced today will be root and branch. We will get to the heart of the matters and make sure every Victorian can have trust restored and every Victorian can feel proud of the work our government does.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this was a very, very direct question about a very important matter –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: On a different point of order, member for Brighton.

James Newbury: Speaker, again on relevance, this robotic answer does not go to the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the Premier how to answer your question. The Premier has concluded his answer.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:15): The Premier now claims he will clean up corruption on the Big Build. How can the Premier look Victorians in the eye and make that claim if after becoming responsible for WorkSafe he failed to stop the CFMEU weaponising safety claims on taxpayer-funded construction sites?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (14:16): There has never been a health and safety rep they have not wanted to sack, has there? When it comes to family values, that side of the ledger are all about family values except workers’ wages and conditions.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker: relevance.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will come back to the question. The Premier has concluded his answer.