Thursday, 15 August 2019

 The PRESIDENT (12:43): We are about to navigate through requests for written responses as per the standing orders. Can I thank Minister Symes, who gave a commitment to Ms Wooldridge in her answer to Ms Wooldridge’s substantive question. Can I thank Minister Jennings, who gave a commitment to Mr Meddick, as per the standing orders, to get a response to his question and also to Dr Ratnam to get a response to her supplementary question. Can I thank Minister Pulford for the offer to get further information in answer to Mr Limbrick’s question, including seeking some information from the police minister. That is a two-day turnaround because of the police minister being involved.

Now, as far as Ms Crozier’s question to Mr Somyurek is concerned, I fully agree with Mr Somyurek that it is impossible and no-one would have the expectation for a minister to have an answer to a question such as: how many mothers are requesting not to go to a particular community centre? But in saying that, I would ask the minister if he could try to get that information from the council—I know that is his responsibility as Minister for Local Government—and also to answer the supplementary question, which was if the minister would seek extra funding for a particular council.

Ms Bath: On a point of order, President, this relates to a question without notice that I asked the Minister for Regional Development yesterday. I asked Minister Symes to respond to a comment that she had made in this house previously on Steelvision. She stated that there was a medium risk to that venture when her department had indicated that there was a medium–high risk category. Certainly I want to give the minister the benefit of the doubt that at the time she misled the house, but I ask that the minister actually give an explanation to clarify her position on that response and correct the record.

The PRESIDENT: I imagine that that would be a question. Question time is over, so I am not too sure about the point of order that you are making, Ms Bath.

Ms Bath: There has been certainly a lack of clarity in her response, and I would ask that this question is reinstated or a written answer is provided to this house.

The PRESIDENT: No, we do not reinstate questions without notice, so I cannot uphold that point of order.

Mr Somyurek: On a point of order, President, I am just taking you up on the point where you have asked me to get some information with respect to statistics on councils and mothers going to councils. That is not my portfolio. Councils provide many services. There are over 126 separate pieces of legislation that councils are asked to work with government on, and that cuts across multiple portfolios. I just do not think this is my area. This is probably a matter for another minister, but not for the Minister for Local Government. That is why I delineated my responsibilities. Like I said, there are 126 separate pieces of legislation that councils are in some way responsible for implementing, and this is clearly one of those that is in a different minister’s portfolio area. I am happy to pass it on, but I would just like to make that clear.

Ms Crozier: On the point of order, President, just in relation to the minister’s concerns, the Municipal Association of Victoria on its website states in relation to maternal and child health that:

The MAV works in partnership with the Victorian Government on policy directions, funding and continuous improvement for maternal and child health services in conjunction with other early childhood services.

So I would suggest that the minister does have responsibility in relation to local government services that are provided through the City of Yarra and funding required to undertake those services.

The PRESIDENT: I ask for the patience of the house in taking into account Minister Somyurek’s submission and also the submission from Ms Crozier if I go away and take time to respond.

Ms Crozier: Last time I didn’t get an answer.

The PRESIDENT: There was an answer. I want to set a precedent which everyone can be confident of going forward, taking into account that governments change from time to time. No-one would want a precedent set by me that was a bad one and which would last forever.