Wednesday, 4 March 2020

Casey planning

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:08): My question is to the Premier. When asked by the media to describe his relationship with major Labor donor developer John Woodman, the Premier said:

I was asked was I close to this fella. No, I wouldn’t describe our relationship like that.

Premier, John Woodman donated to you personally, dined privately with you at the Flower Drum and supported your election as Premier. Why has the Premier covered up the truth of the depth of his relationship with major Labor donor John Woodman?

Ms Allan interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the House.

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:09): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I reject each of the assertions that he has made in his question, and I repeat for him that I behave appropriately at all times.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, which aspect was he rejecting—that he received donations from Woodman? That he dined with him at the Flower Drum?

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr M O’Brien: The Premier should be making it clear.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition knows—the Premier has concluded his answer. There is no point of order.

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:09): On a supplementary, Megan Schutz reported to John Woodman that she met the Premier at a Labor fundraiser—surprise, surprise—and congratulated him on his election result and that the Premier gave her ‘a kiss on the cheek’ and said:

Say hi to John, Megan, say hi to John.

Why did the Premier mislead Victorians about the closeness of his relationship with the major Labor donor and developer John Woodman?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:10): Again, I completely reject the assertion contained in the Leader of the Opposition’s question.

Members interjecting.

Mr ANDREWS: No-one has congratulated you after an election for a while.

Mr Wells: On a point of order, under sessional order 11 the answers by the Premier need to be factual, and I would ask you to make sure that when he is answering this question, that as part of sessional order 11, it is factual.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am unable to rule on that point of order. The Premier has concluded his answer.