Wednesday, 4 March 2020

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Member conduct

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:01): My question is to the Premier. Under section 5.6 of the ministerial code of conduct ministers and parliamentary secretaries should always ensure that they act in accordance with their overall obligations to the people of Victoria for honest, efficient and effective government. The Premier said he would take responsibility for everything in his government, so why hasn’t the Premier instigated an investigation into the Treasurer’s dealings with the Premier’s dodgy developer mate John Woodman?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The substance of the question is allowable. As I mentioned to the house yesterday—

Mr Staikos interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bentleigh is warned. The member’s question refers to an individual who is currently the subject of proceedings or hearings at IBAC, and I would ask the member to rephrase the question so as not to cast any aspersions on someone who is currently before IBAC.

Mr M O’BRIEN: On a point of order, Speaker, I do not believe that the use of the phrase ‘dodgy’ is in any way inappropriate given the evidence that has been admitted—admitted—by Mr Woodman.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am simply applying the sub judice convention. I just ask the member to repeat his question and just refer to—

Mr M O’BRIEN: This is not sub judice, Speaker, because he is not before a court.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ruled yesterday very clearly that there are some matters before commissions such as this one that should be considered under the sub judice convention. I just ask the member to ask the question that he has asked but maybe ask the last part of it in a different way.

Mr M O’BRIEN: My question is to the Premier. Under section 5.6 of the ministerial code of conduct ministers and parliamentary secretaries should always ensure that they act in accordance with their overall obligations to the people of Victoria for honest, efficient and effective government. The Premier said he would take responsibility for everything in his government, so why has the Premier not instigated an investigation into the Treasurer’s dealings with the Premier’s Ferrari-driving developer mate John Woodman?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:03): As the Leader of the Opposition ought to know, IBAC is currently conducting a series of inquiries. They ought to be allowed to conclude their work, and all of us I think should wait for the final determinations of IBAC. In the meantime, though, I will just make the point to the Leader of the Opposition that the Treasurer always conducts himself appropriately.

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:04): The Premier refused to act when the Treasurer was found to have owned Transurban shares in breach of the ministerial code of conduct at the same time he was the decision-maker for the West Gate Tunnel deal with Transurban. Now the Treasurer has been exposed as breaching the ministerial code of conduct again by acting as a fixer for a major Labor donor and Ferrari-driving developer. Isn’t the reason you are refusing to take action against the Treasurer because when it comes to the Ferrari-driving developer John Woodman you are just as compromised as he is?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:05): The answer to that ridiculous question is no.