Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Deputy Premier. When the Premier was Minister for Public Transport, the government resolved to keep a public transport tax secret from the Victorian people. If integrity is no longer optional, why did the Premier keep this $8 billion tax on every public transport user secret?

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Education, Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for First Peoples, Minister for Women and Gender Equality) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Each and every year we communicate to the Victorian community the adjustment to public transport fares that takes place and is implemented from 1 January each and every year. Like all fare revenue, fare revenue goes back into the public transport trust fund and is reinvested back into our public transport network to deliver the services that Victorians need. Of course it has allowed us to invest in record levels of services –

Richard Riordan interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Polwarth is warned.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this question asked the Acting Premier to explain why this tax was kept secret. The Acting Premier is debating the question.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, the Acting Premier is being relevant to the question that has been asked with regard to fares.

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

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: As I have outlined, each and every year we communicate to the Victorian public what the impact will be on their public transport fares that come into effect from 1 January each and every year.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Acting Premier is required to be factual. The government did not communicate this secret tax. They did not communicate it.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Deputy Premier has concluded her answer.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): The Premier says integrity is no longer optional. How can Victorians –

Members interjecting.

Jess WILSON: He did. Should we get the clip? We will get the clip. I will send it to you.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wendouree is warned. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to direct her comments through the Chair.

Jess WILSON: Certainly, Speaker. The Premier says integrity is no longer optional. How can Victorians possibly trust a Premier and a Deputy Premier who kept an $8 billion tax on every train, tram and bus user in this state secret for five years?

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Education, Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for First Peoples, Minister for Women and Gender Equality) (14:06): I appreciate that it has been some time since those opposite were in a position where they had to oversee something as significant as a public transport network, and so I forgive them for not necessarily paying attention to annual processes, including of course the work that takes place to determine the public transport fares that come into effect from 1 January every year. In the lead-up to that, typically in December, the responsible minister usually goes out and communicates to the Victorian public – maybe occasionally the Premier –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Nationals! The member for Polwarth can leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Polwarth withdrew from chamber.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: The public transport minister would go out to the Victorian community and communicate what the fare rate will be starting from 1 January of the following year. That communicates very clearly what any potential fare increases may be. That is the practice, and that will continue from here on in.