Probuild
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:17): My question is to the Minister for Small Business and concerns the Probuild collapse and administration and its impact on small business. Probuild was responsible through its subsidiary WBHO Construction for the western roads package, a $1.8 billion state roads package and construction program in the western suburbs. Probuild has finished this project, which is now administered through an ongoing 20-year PPP arrangement. However, concerningly, WBHO has not paid all the construction and building firms that built the project. This is inconsistent with state government commitments on security of payment for state works, and I ask: what steps will the small business minister take to ensure hardworking contractors who have completed this project do not go broke, effectively being left to whistle Dixie?
Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:18): Thank you, Mr Davis, for your question. The government has been monitoring closely the situation with Probuild, and I can provide an update to the update that I provided in the last sitting week, a fortnight ago. My department continues to be in contact with Probuild since their announcement last fortnight. Let me say at the outset that I offer our full support for affected workers through the Workers in Transition program and Jobs Victoria. I want people to know that they have that support. But the current state of affairs is that it is our expectation that the company will honour all of their legal obligations to workers and subcontractors. We will also provide Probuild with appropriate business facilitation services as the administrator, which is Deloitte, pursues the options of a new owner.
The Victorian government has no direct contracts with Probuild at this time, and I know that Mr Davis’s question did go to a whole bunch of other areas of ministerial responsibility; obviously there are a number of portfolios that are impacted by this significant event. Probuild have advised that they are working with the administrator on plans to protect clients, subcontractors and employees, and my department’s engagement with those who are impacted by this, whether they are small businesses, large businesses, independent contractors or individual self-employed people, will continue.
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:19): I thank the minister for her answer, but the truth of the matter is that a copy of the minutes of the liquidator Deloitte’s meeting on 4 March contains the names of Victorian firms involved in the WBHO construction of the western roads package that have not yet been paid. Will the minister therefore insist that each and every contractor is paid in full for the work they have done on the state government’s western roads package?
Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:20): Mr Davis has asked about the actions that occur when things are being liquidated. What I have outlined is the process that Deloitte is working through, the endeavours to find a new purchaser and the support for workers who are impacted by what has happened with Probuild. Whilst I—
Members interjecting.
Dr Cumming: On a point of order, President, I am really struggling today with some of the comments that I have been hearing from the government around inappropriate behaviour. As somebody who has been abused by an alcoholic, I am absolutely disgusted at some of the things that I have been hearing out of these gentlemen’s mouths.
Members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT: Dr Cumming! You have raised your point of order. Members, please, we all know we should behave very well in the chamber and outside the chamber.
Ms PULFORD: I think in the circumstances people are being restrained. Mr Davis has made his apology, and I would concur, President, with your comments about the standing of members of Parliament both in and out of the chamber and when we are at public events.
But this is an important question that Mr Davis has asked, and I might, with your forbearance, just take a couple of seconds so I can finish the answer to that question. I will ask that my department engages with the Department of Transport around the contractual arrangements in the western roads upgrade project to make sure that people who are in this situation are provided with appropriate support. I undertake to do that.