Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Probuild

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:28): My question is to the Minister for Small Business, and I refer to the WBHOI Probuild collapse and the concerns previously expressed by all sides in this chamber with respect to creditors, including small businesses and contractors, who have worked on the government’s Big Build, specifically the western roads project. I note the deed of company arrangement says:

Upon effectuation of the DOCA all Creditors’ claims against WBHOI will be extinguished and creditors will only have a right to an entitlement from the Creditors’ Trust.

Major Road Projects Victoria and the state government have been silent on this, so my question to the minister is: given the DOCA effectively extinguishes outstanding liabilities of the western roads project, will the government step in and ensure that Victorian contractors are not left high and dry?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:29): Mr Davis used a few acronyms there, including at least one that I am not familiar with—

Mr Davis: The deed of arrangement.

Ms PULFORD: The deed of arrangement for the western roads upgrade project, was it?

Mr Davis: Yes.

Ms PULFORD: Yes, okay. I am happy to take that question on notice and seek a response from the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, but in doing so I would reiterate the comments that I have made, I think in the last two sitting weeks, around the work that government is doing with small businesses and contractors impacted by the situation with Probuild. Since the last sitting week, two weeks ago, I do not have a great deal further to update in terms of the work of the administrators in finding new opportunities for those works to be completed. But, again, all government projects are fully funded and we are confident that work will continue. In terms of the specifics around those contracting arrangements on that particular project, or suite of projects, through that tender, I will confer with my colleague and provide some further detail. We do continue to make sure that people are provided with support through the Workers in Transition program and Jobs Victoria.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:30): None of those help these contractors; that is the problem. So I ask a further question: a PPP arrangement still exists for the management of the roads; is it the government’s intention that small contractors yet to be paid by Probuild will not be compensated by the government or by the PPP?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:30): The supplementary question is certainly squarely in the responsibility of my colleague. I will seek a written response for Mr Davis on that question and those matters that relate to the administration of that contract.

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, whilst the administration of those major projects is certainly the responsibility of the minister, the arrangements for small contractors and small businesses are squarely in the minister’s portfolio responsibility.

Mr Gepp: On the point of order, President, there is no point of order. Mr Davis does this repeatedly.

The PRESIDENT: The minister has finished her answer, and I take the answer as completed. Or do you want to make any further comment?

Ms PULFORD: Yes, I might, because Mr Davis was doing that thing that he always does around trying to blur the lines around ministerial accountability, which actually is a very, very important foundation of systems of government in this country. That contract and that project are absolutely most definitely the responsibility of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and as I have said, I will take some advice from her about these questions. In terms of my responsibilities as Minister for Small Business and Minister for Employment, we have programs and initiatives that exist to support people who are impacted by this, and they are being deployed. Again, I would refer to the Leader of the Government’s observations earlier in the house: it is time to go back to question time school, Mr Davis.

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, it is clearly the point here that those contractors have not received the support they need, and that is the minister’s response—

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you! The question was put; the answer was given. No further.