Thursday, 1 September 2022

Constituency questions

Western Victoria Region

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:38): (1961) My constituency question is for the Minister for Environment and Climate Action, and it relates to the protection of hundreds of beautiful trees around Ballarat’s iconic Lake Wendouree. The Ballarat Courier recently revealed enormous groundworks and disruption of tree roots in Steinfeld Street, Ballarat, to enable the construction of a footpath. Significant photographic evidence suggests that the council’s own tree protection policy may not have been properly followed as roots larger than 30 millimetres appear to have been cut in the tree protection zones. Large machinery operation and boring also appear to have been conducted in these zones. Lake Wendouree was last week added to the state heritage register. Can the minister assure Ballarat residents that such conduct in tree protection zones will not happen at Lake Wendouree as the state’s $2.5 million election promise of a lighting plan proceeds?

Members interjecting.

Ms Pulford: On a point of order, President, Dr Cumming just accused me of having a muzzle on, and I would like her to withdraw.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can I speak, please?

Dr Cumming: I am happy to.

Ms Pulford: So you did? You’re a piece of work, aren’t you?

The PRESIDENT: Minister!

Dr Cumming: I’m a piece of work? I would like the minister to withdraw calling me a piece of work.

The PRESIDENT: The minister raised a point of order, and I have not ruled yet on the point of order. That the interjections kept going is not welcome in this Parliament. The minister has a point of order. Dr Cumming, if you did, I ask you to withdraw now, without comment.

Dr Cumming: I am happy to withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Dr Cumming: On a point of order, President, I request that the minister withdraw her comment that I am a piece of work. I am completely offended.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, can I ask you a question. You asked for the comment Dr Cumming made to be withdrawn; did you say it back or did you just repeat the word she said? That is all I am asking.

Ms Pulford: I am sorry, I do not understand. By way of interjection Dr Cumming referred to my mask—which, like lots of people taking notice of the health advice, I am wearing—as a muzzle, which I think is offensive because muzzles are worn by dogs.

The PRESIDENT: Did you say the words that Dr Cumming said or not?

Ms Pulford: Yes, I called her a piece of work because she was inferring I am a dog.

The PRESIDENT: I ask you to withdraw.

Ms Pulford: I withdraw that.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you. All done?

Dr Cumming: Muzzled.

Members interjecting.

Mr Meddick: On a point of order, President, I am terribly sorry to call it again, but Dr Cumming has repeated the comment again, and it is flouting your ruling. I for one, and I think the rest of the chamber, am quite sick and tired of Dr Cumming’s interjections like this across the chamber. We want to see an end to it.

The PRESIDENT: Dr Cumming, I do not want to do this, but unfortunately I asked you to withdraw, and you did, and you repeated it. I ask you to leave the chamber for 15 minutes.

Dr Cumming withdrew from chamber.