Thursday, 18 August 2022

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Member conduct

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:00): My question is to the Leader of the Government. Minister, on 19 November last year, after the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 had stalled in this chamber, I asked you whether a deal had been struck or negotiations undertaken with the crossbench, including the Transport Matters Party’s Mr Rod Barton. You gave an inconclusive answer about whether a special side deal would be struck. Around the time that Mr Barton changed his vote on the pandemic legislation a donation of $3450 was made to his party by the Victorian Trades Hall Council, an arm of the Australian Labor Party, and I ask: were you, as Leader of the Government in charge of negotiations with the crossbench, including Mr Barton, aware of this crooked donation?

Ms Shing: On a point of order, President, if Mr Davis has specific allegations to put in relation to a member of this chamber, he should do so by way of substantive motion.

The PRESIDENT: While I had questions about the question myself—and I thank you for your point of order—I still call the Leader of the Government.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:02): I appreciate the time to compose myself. The audacity of you guys to ask about secret deals and donations—the lack of self-awareness is just astounding. Probably what concerns me most about your question, and the substantive answer to your question is no, is the fact that you ask it makes me think that that is how you would behave—the fact that you even think to put that question. In government that is probably what you would think is an appropriate way to conduct yourselves. It is extraordinary.

The inference that you have made and the aspersion you have made against the character of Mr Barton is—I will let him perhaps defend himself. But I spent hours and hours with Mr Barton, Mr Hayes and other members in this chamber who wanted to understand the bill and the benefits to protecting the health and safety of Victorians. As we know, the bill came in and the subsequent amendments reflected those discussions. That bill passed as a matter of compromise, a matter of explanation and a matter of going through in detail the elements of the public health and wellbeing bill, which ended up producing legislation that passed this chamber. To suggest that there was an inducement, a deal, a bribe, to get people to support a bill that ultimately protected the health and safety of Victorians is outrageous and just a reflection on you.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:04): I thank the minister for her answer, and I note the transaction with Mr Barton where money was provided to him and there was in fact a change in his position—

Mr Barton: On a point of order, President, there was no money that changed hands, Mr Davis. Once again you are just making things up—grandstanding again. There was no money. Trades Hall, who I have known for many—

The PRESIDENT: Order! Nothing further.

Ms Pulford: On a point of order, President, Mr Davis is making extraordinary allegations against a member of this chamber, and our standing orders require such things to be done by substantive motion, which would at the least, should the opposition actually have the guts to bring it on, which they would not—they never do—

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Minister. I am having problems with questions and supplementaries. We go into debate and go again and again. Mr Davis, I ask you to ask your supplementary question, straight to the question.

Mr DAVIS: President, I take your guidance and I ask the minister to rule out the Labor Party preferencing Mr Barton as a further transaction for his tainted votes.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Mr Davis, I warned you before and I asked you to go straight to the question. The question is not related to the answer or anything, so I am going to rule it out.