Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Housing

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:06): (653) My question is to the Minister for Housing. Minister, according to your publicly released diaries, on 10 April you met with John Setka and Christy Cain, Elizabeth-Mary Doidge and others from Victorian Trades Hall regarding housing matters. Minister, exactly what was discussed at this meeting?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:07): Thank you very much, Mr Mulholland. I am glad that you have had a look at my diary entries. I think I cracked over 70 meetings for the reporting period in question –

David Davis interjected.

Harriet SHING: I would ask that Mr Davis unequivocally withdraw that remark.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, can you withdraw that.

David Davis: This is a worry; I just said they are not all corrupt. But I withdraw.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis has withdrawn. Minister Shing without any help.

Harriet SHING: Thank you, President. I take my obligations to meet with people about the housing portfolio, the water portfolio and the equality portfolio very, very seriously. In fact on the date in question I met with Trades Hall and unions from the building industry group, and it was actually a really important conversation that continued the work that is happening across industry, across local government and with our superannuation partners – the affordability partnership. Just recently I was at a lunch with the housing industry Australia stakeholders, the Property Council of Australia, Stockland and others. That is all listed.

Mr Davis, when I went to Trades Hall – and I am not sure whether you would know how to find it, across the way – it was in fact a really important set of conversations to be talking with people who represent workers. In this regard, Mr Davis, I was pleased to meet with the building industry group, which includes a number of unions, and to talk about the implementation of the housing statement. In this regard, Mr Davis, I can assure you that when I arrived at the meeting it was at the conclusion of another meeting and I exchanged I think two words – no, it was three: ‘How are you?’ – with a couple of the people you have referenced in your question, and they left shortly after. Mr Davis, when we declare a meeting, it contains the names of all of the attendees at that meeting, irrespective of whether they stay, ask any questions or engage. But for the record, Mr Davis, there was no engagement in substantive terms, or any other terms, in relation to housing or any of the matters which you seem so preoccupied with.

It may be a disappointment to you, Mr Davis, but I will never resile from the importance of engaging with the people who represent workers. I will never resile from the importance of engaging with people who represent builders, superannuation funds, local councils, all levels of government to make sure that when we build homes we are building them across the state using good materials, using workforces that are safe and appropriately remunerated. And, Mr Davis, you could probably learn a thing or two from those approaches.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:10): In the interests of transparency, will the minister release the agenda and minutes of this meeting so Victorians can have confidence that she is acting in the best interests of Victorians?

Members interjecting.

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:11): Oh, Mr Mulholland. I am going to pick up that interjection from you, Ms Bath – a meeting so secret that it was published as part of all of the ministerial meetings that I have attended in the period relevant to the reports, so secret in fact that I did not talk about it in the answer to my substantive question, so secret in fact that it has absolutely no nexus whatsoever to delivering on the housing statement and so secret that in fact I would seek to remove myself from any engagement with the unions! Oh, wait, Mr Mulholland – that is absolutely not correct. So what I would say, Mr Mulholland, is that your approach to meetings and engagements on discussions with stakeholders may involve a paint-by-numbers approach. This was a meeting that I was pleased to attend, and the process of engagement was something set entirely by those whose premises I visited – namely, the Victorian Trades Hall Council.