Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Ministers statements: government achievements

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:36): I am delighted to rise to update all honourable members and indeed all Victorians of the significant progress we are making in delivering on the promises that we have made. We said we would get rid of 50 level crossings by 2022 and we have got rid of 34 so far: gone! This has been opposed in many respects by some, but delivered in full by our government, and we are well on track to have 50 gone by 2022 and indeed 75 gone against that longer time frame. This is employing thousands of Victorians, giving medium and larger businesses the pipeline of work that they need; getting rid of deathtraps and safety concerns; having traffic move more freely—a fantastic outcome. Again, I just make the point: it was opposed by some but delivered by our government.

The list goes on. The Deputy Premier and Minister for Education was just talking about 100 new schools, 11 of which are opening this year. That creates a lot of jobs too. That creates a lot of jobs. There are billions of dollars of investment in school projects large and small, and we are investing in TAFE right across the state: 1400 projects or more, in fact, creating jobs and skills and opportunities and the best start in life.

Members interjecting.

Mr ANDREWS: Well, the West Gate Tunnel—there are 4000 people working on the West Gate Tunnel, another one opposed by some—

Mr M O’Brien interjected.

Mr ANDREWS: It is a shame you did not speak up for infrastructure as loudly when you were at the cabinet table. It is a shame you did not have as big a voice for infrastructure when you were at the cabinet table.

Mr M O’Brien interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition!

Mr ANDREWS: You are struggling to build a reputation. I am not going to be taking lectures on building infrastructure from you. You are at full stretch building a reputation, my friend. We will not be taking lectures on building infrastructure from the member for Malvern, the failed former Treasurer.

The list goes on: the Metro Tunnel is continuing apace, suburban roads and too many hospital projects to mention. Across Melbourne and across regional Victoria we are building the infrastructure we need and creating jobs along the way.

Mr Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, there are a few questions that have been unanswered by the government. I would like to raise with your attention questions 1466, 1497, 1499, 1501, 1502, 1504, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509, 1510. You are going to need a lot more ink in your pen there, Speaker—1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, 1515, 1516, 1517, 1518, 1520, 1522, 1523, 1525, 1526, 1527, 1528, 1529. It keeps going, there is a fair list here—1530, 1531, 1532, 1533, 1534, 1535, 1536, 1537, 1538.

That is one row done. It has got to go in. I can table the document, if you would like.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would ask the member for Gembrook to assist the house by providing the list to the clerks.

Mr BATTIN: It has got to be in Hansard. I am happy to table the documents—by leave, I am happy to table the document.

The SPEAKER: You can make it available to the house.

Mr BATTIN: I will table it so it is incorporated.

The SPEAKER: I am advised by the clerks we can incorporate the list into Hansard.

Mr BATTIN: I have got the call at the moment. I will read them in or offer by leave to table them. Do you want them tabled?

Members interjecting.

Mr BATTIN: No? Okay: 1539, 1540, 1541, 1542, 1543, 1544, 1545, 1546, 1547, 1548, 1549, 1550, 1551, 1552, 1553, 1554, 1555, 1556, 1557, 1558, 1559—

did not miss one; one minister answered—

1560, 1561, 1562, 1563, 1564, 1565, 1566, 1567, 1568, 1569, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1573, 1574, 1575, 1576, 1577—

getting close to my date of birth—

1578, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1582, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1586, 1587, 1589, 1590, 1591, 1592, 1593, 1594, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1600, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604, 1605, 1606, 1607, 1608, 1609, 1794 and 1793.

I would ask that you look into those and if we can get some of them answered by next question time.

The SPEAKER: I will ask the relevant ministers to respond to those questions.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, I missed some of the numbers of the member for Gembrook. Could you ask him to repeat them please?

Mr R Smith: On the point of order, Speaker, I think the member for Gembrook has amply pointed to the sessional orders, particularly sessional order 4:

Answers to questions on notice

A reply to a question on notice delivered to the Clerk under Standing Order 54(3) must be submitted within 30 days.

The member for Gembrook has amply shown, demonstrated, that ministers are not doing their job, and it is something that I have raised in this house many times. Indeed my colleagues on this side of the chamber have also on many occasions raised the issue of the ministers’ tardiness when it comes to fulfilling their responsibilities. When we have a member of this place who largely I am sure is asking questions of the government on behalf of his constituents and indeed the broader Victorian community, it is incumbent on ministers to actually do their job and to have those questions answered. They have the resources of their departments and their agencies. It is not something they have to do personally.

I think, as I said, it is incumbent on the ministers to do their job and to deliver those answers to members of Parliament who are here to represent their communities, who have been called by their communities to represent and be their voices in this place. After what has been over a year of ministers being, as I said, very tardy in discharging their responsibilities, I ask you to maybe have a bit of a chat to the Leader of the House and have her speak to her colleagues about those ministers fulfilling those duties as put down in the sessional orders.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Warrandyte for raising that point of order. I will indeed have a look at how many outstanding questions there are and, if required, discuss the matter with relevant government representatives.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I also have a constituency question—

A member interjected.

Ms Vallence: I cannot compete with the member for Gembrook on the number of questions, but with constituency question 1691, I asked of the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events whether the government will commit funding to the Yarra Valley equestrian park project, a very important project for the local economy in my electorate. It was asked 83 days ago, on 27 November 2019, and I would appreciate if you could follow that up.

The SPEAKER: I will follow that matter up as well.