Thursday, 2 May 2024

Community safety

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:16): (513) My question is to the Minister for Skills and TAFE. Minister, I refer to the growing antisemitism at Victorian universities, where the tone and behaviour of students impacts on both domestic and international students alike. Specifically, Minister, I refer to the intemperate behaviour of some pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including camping on campus now for one week at the University of Melbourne and the apparent commencement of a camp at Monash University. Minister, given the risks to student safety and the clear antisemitism involved in these demonstrations, will you utilise the powers you have under section 55(2) of the University of Melbourne Act 2009, which you administer, according to the administrative orders, to require the university to act and ensure that pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus behave in a respectful way towards all students and that campuses are safe?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:17): I thank the member for the question. The member would well know that I condemn, and this government condemns, any antisemitic and/or racist behaviour anywhere, including our universities. You absolutely know that. The fact of the matter is that we have a position that people should be safe no matter where they are, and students deserve to be safe on university campuses. Having said that, I do encourage and support the right of students and their student organisations to peacefully protest on campus and respectfully share their concerns regarding their own welfare and the welfare of others.

What has unfolded in Israel and Palestine is absolutely deeply distressing to all of us here in Victoria and elsewhere, and it is important that we maintain respect for each other, reaffirming that Victoria stands together with all communities and all Victorians who are impacted by this conflict. Everyone has the right to come together and peacefully protest, but not at the expense of the safety of others. Universities are expected to ensure all students are safe at all times and are secure in an environment that protects and fosters safety and security.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): The minister did not answer the simple question as to whether she will act under the powers that she has. I therefore ask: have you been briefed formally on the pro-Palestinian activism and demonstration at Victorian universities, and if so, will you make that advice public?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:20): The day-to-day management of affairs at a university fall within the providence of the university. They manage the day-to-day affairs. At the moment, this is a peaceful protest, and of course the universities where this activity is taking place are mindful of that. Now, of course if there is a situation where there is some sort of escalation, which we have seen in other parts of the world, then it will be a case where a response may be elevated and where the university, for example, or the campuses involved may contact law enforcement. But we are not at that point at this stage, and again, I encourage the ongoing respect that people must have in situations anywhere, let alone in our universities.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, it is a very simple question I have asked: has she been briefed, and will she make that public? If the answer is no, she can say no, or she can say yes, if it is yes.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! In my view, the minister’s answer was relevant to the question.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I would ask you to ask the minister to withdraw the comment she made about Mr Davis, or the accusation she was calling out.

The PRESIDENT: I apologise. I did not hear.

Georgie Crozier: Well, I did, and I would ask you to ask the minister to withdraw.

A member interjected.

Georgie Crozier: She knows what she said, and she should withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: Given that I did not hear the comment, if the minister believes she has made a comment that she should withdraw –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Ms Crozier, I will still invite the minister, if she believes that she has said something she should withdraw, to do that.

Gayle TIERNEY: On a point of order, President, I made a number of comments, none of which were actually directed at Mr Davis.

Georgie Crozier: On the point of order, President, this is question time. We are entitled as the opposition to ask questions of ministers. If the minister wants to try and bait male members of the opposition instead of answering the questions that are important to the Victorian community, then that says everything about the minister and her incapacity to handle the portfolio.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ms Crozier.

David Davis interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, let me rule on Ms Crozier’s point of order. That was more a debate than a point of order, and I did say before that I believed the minister was relevant to the question she was asked.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, I have now been told what the minister said, and I do take offence at that. I ask her to withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: The issue is you did not hear it at the time – that is the issue. The onus was on you, Mr Davis, if you were offended and if you did hear it, to put a point of order that you were offended. I invited the minister, if she felt that she should withdraw something, to do so. She does not believe that she should have to withdraw, and I cannot force her to at this point.