Wednesday, 12 August 2026

 Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:21): My question is to the Premier. Leaked cabinet documents show that the Premier previously supported bringing private investment into Melbourne Water, but the Premier now says that he will not privatise Melbourne Water. We know that the Labor government has become crafty with its definition of ‘privatisation’ over the years. Joint ventures, public–private partnerships, leasing the Port of Melbourne and a 40-year lease of public housing land to private developers are still forms of privatisation but under different names. So my question is: will the Premier rule out every form of privatisation or monetisation of Melbourne Water to private interests?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:22): There will be no privatisation of water assets.

 Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:22): I thank the Premier for his answer and his commitment to not privatising Melbourne Water in any way, but this Labor government has run a privatisation program that is more infamous than Jeff Kennett’s: VicRoads, the Port of Melbourne, the land titles office, public housing – the list goes on and on. Labor’s go-to budget bandaid is to flog off public assets at every single opportunity. Will the Premier unequivocally rule out privatising any more of Victoria’s assets, including our public housing estates?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:23): I answered the supplementary in the primary question. There will be no privatisation of water assets.

Ellen Sandell: On a point of order, Speaker, answers are required to be relevant to the question. The supplementary actually was not about Melbourne Water, it was about other assets.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, the Premier answered the question – it was much the same question – twice with the same answer. It was emphatic.

Gabrielle de Vietri: On the point of order, Speaker, the question was not about Melbourne Water, it was about all public assets, including public housing.

The SPEAKER: The Premier can answer the question relating to the primary question, and the Premier was relevant.