Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:14): My question is to the Premier. The Premier says there will be zero tolerance for corruption after $15 billion was siphoned from Victorian taxpayers into the hands of bikies –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Brighton to continue, without assistance from the house.

James NEWBURY: The Premier says there will be zero tolerance for corruption after $15 billion was siphoned from Victorian taxpayers into the hands of bikies and criminals while he sat around the cabinet table. Will the Premier confirm that it remains government policy for former premiers or MPs prosecuted over corruption to receive a taxpayer-funded parliamentary pension whilst they face trial?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:16): I have made it very clear: whether it is in business, politics or indeed the union movement, there will be zero tolerance for those who misuse their position.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question was specifically whether former members who turn out to be crooks get a parliamentary pension.

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

Ben CARROLL: I announced in my first press conference and called the royal commission. I also said we will set up in parallel –

James Newbury: On a further point of order, Speaker, the Premier is required to be factual and has not called a royal commission. You are required to be factual. There is no royal commission.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, you will address your comments through the Chair. I do not uphold the point of order.

Ben CARROLL: We announced the royal commission, we announced we are setting up a special prosecutor and I also announced that I am giving IBAC the follow-the-money powers this year, not next year.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Broadmeadows can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Broadmeadows withdrew from chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I seek your advice on relevance. This question was around the parliamentary pension of former members – a very specific question. The Premier has gone nowhere near dealing with that question.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, Rulings from the Chair says, ‘Raising the same point of order … each day simply wastes the time of the house’ – Speaker Plowman.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has only been on his feet for a short time. The Premier to continue. I do not uphold the point of order.

Ben CARROLL: I will follow due process. This is a report that was 10 years in the making, and I will follow due process.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is robotically reading his talking points but is not dealing with the substance of the question as to whether or not former crooked members get the parliamentary pension.

The SPEAKER: I will repeat my rulings in relation to this, as I have done many times. I cannot tell the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier has concluded his answer.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:19): Will the Premier change the rules and strip any former member who is the subject of adverse findings by a royal commission of their taxpayer-funded pension?

Anthony Carbines: On a point of order, Speaker, I say that the member is seeking an opinion and it is hypothetical. It is out of order, the question that is being put by the member.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the Leader of the House’s point of order.

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:19): I have called the royal commission. Let them get on and do their work. Let us not pre-empt what they will do.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question was very clearly around whether the Premier is willing to change the rules around the parliamentary pension. It was not about any other matter. If he does not want to change the rules, he can say that, but that was the question.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I do not uphold the point of order.