COVID-19
Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:10): My question is again to the Premier. The West Australian Labor government announced a $607 million package, which includes measures to support West Australian small and medium businesses and West Australian workers. WA businesses with a payroll of between $1 million and $4 million will receive a one-off grant of $17 500 to assist them to manage the impacts of COVID-19. For two days now this Labor government has refused to announce any action to support Victorian small businesses, despite every other state in the country doing so. Premier, when will you follow the lead of your Labor colleague in WA and provide direct cash support to struggling Victorian businesses and their hardworking staff?
The SPEAKER: I remind the Leader of the Opposition it is ‘When will the Premier’.
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:11): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The first point I will make is that I do not see this as a Labor or Liberal issue. I see this as an issue of national unity, and I think the way in which this question is framed makes it very clear how this emergency, this crisis, is viewed by the questioner and those opposite. This is not a matter of Labor or Liberal; this is a matter of everyone being in this together, everyone taking a considered approach and making announcements that will make a difference at the appropriate time.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Before calling the Leader of the Opposition I warn members on both sides if they shout across the chamber they will be removed without further warning.
Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (11:12): Goodness me! The Premier talks about ‘at an appropriate time’. Chris Bonacci of Myrtleford operates Alpine Spirit Coaches. He has had a devastating bushfire season, and on top of that the impact of COVID-19 has forced him to lay off his 18 staff and to ground his entire bus fleet. Without government assistance—urgent government assistance—his business will not survive and these staff will lose their jobs permanently. For how much longer will this Labor government ignore these desperate pleas for assistance?
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (11:12): I will put it to the Leader of the Opposition that we will continue to work with officials from Treasury, we will continue to work with the national government. Yesterday we were urged to deliver a surplus by some in clear contravention of advice from the secretary of the commonwealth Treasury, clear contravention of advice from the governor of the Reserve Bank, clear contravention of common sense—
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order!
Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is now debating the question. The question was not: what is everyone else doing to assist? We know that. The question is: why isn’t this Premier doing anything to assist?
The SPEAKER: Order! The point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier is being relevant to the question that has been asked.
Mr ANDREWS: I am simply indicating from whom I will be taking advice, and in the spirit of bipartisanship I will be as light as I can be. I will not be taking advice from those who are 100 per cent at odds with the governor of the Reserve Bank, 100 per cent at odds with the secretary of the commonwealth Treasury and, can I just say for completeness sake, 100 per cent at odds with Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg. We will make announcements and you will be briefed on them at that time.