Wednesday, 4 March 2020

Casey planning

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:13): My question is to the Treasurer. Covert wire taps played at IBAC yesterday revealed that the Treasurer facilitated an introduction between John Woodman’s associate Megan Schutz and a departmental executive for the purpose of securing favourable treatment for John Woodman’s commercial interests.

On how many occasions has the Treasurer or his office interceded on behalf of John Woodman and his clients?

Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (11:13): I do not intend on delving into what is going on before IBAC, because they have an important role to play in ensuring that there is integrity in public life. And let me be very clear: this government continues to and will always act responsibly and appropriately within the confines of the law, and I do not accept—

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the question was very simple: on how many occasions has the Treasurer or his office interceded on behalf of John Woodman or his clients? That is a very simple question, and the Treasurer has not even begun to address it. This is actually really important for transparency. This is about his responsibility as a minister of the Crown—has he used or abused that position? I ask you to bring him back to answering the question: how many times has he gone in to bat for John Woodman?

The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer has concluded his answer.

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:14): Pathetic. It is just pathetic.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Without the commentary.

Mr M O’BRIEN: The IBAC wire taps show Ms Schutz reporting to John Woodman that she told the Treasurer, ‘They have now reached an agreement and it’s just fantastic, and it never would have happened if it wasn’t down to you, so thank you’. To which the Treasurer replied:

Megan, we work together. We work together to achieve outcomes.

Why was the Treasurer personally working with a Ferrari-driving, Labor-donating developer, John Woodman, and his associates to deliver outcomes?

Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (11:15): There was a lot in that, but to put it simply, IBAC is conducting an inquiry. I do not accept that the presentation of any conversation relayed second hand between other parties is necessarily reflective of what I said.