Thursday, 9 February 2023

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:03): (25) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Nick Wimbush has been embroiled in a conflict-of-interest controversy, being appointed to Melbourne Water to conduct a review of the Maribyrnong River flood and then forced to resign in disgrace because of a clear conflict of interest given his involvement in planning panels with responsibility for the now recently flooded aged care properties. I ask: given Mr Wimbush’s position at the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, what conflict-of-interest requirements are in place to ensure Mr Wimbush is not conflicted in his VEAC role?

Ingrid Stitt: President, I just might seek a little bit of guidance. Obviously the matters that Mr Davis raises in respect to Melbourne Water and that independent inquiry are not, under the general order, the responsibility of the Minister for Environment. They sit with Minister Shing in her capacity as Minister for Water. Noting that that was the preamble to Mr Davis’s question, I might ask for a bit of guidance from you.

David DAVIS: Further to the point of order, President, the minister is responsible for the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, and I have asked directly a question about the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, which is squarely within her area of ministerial responsibility. The question arises because of other matters that have happened, but he holds a position in an authority under her responsibility.

The PRESIDENT: I think, Mr Davis, I will call the minister, but she will answer as she sees fit.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:05): Thank you, President. Mr Davis is quite good at trying to muddy the waters – excuse the pun – because of course the implication is that this particular individual has a conflict or a perceived conflict on the board that I have responsibility for under the general order, and that is not something that I would think was appropriate for Mr Davis to draw that conclusion on. What I will say is that all of the appointments in my portfolio of the environment are done in accordance with all of the requirements, both in terms of the management of any conflict or perceived conflict by those individual bodies, and the appointments are done in accordance with the code of conduct and cabinet procedures.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): In light of the minister’s answer, I therefore ask: will the minister demand a report from the chair of VEAC Mellissa Wood to outline conflict-of-interest policy and specifically whether Mr Wimbush is now or may have been conflicted in his role at VEAC?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:07): I know that on all of the boards that operate in this important portfolio area, and the particular board that Mr Davis raises, the chairs and the members of those boards understand very well what their obligations are to manage such matters.