Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:30): My question is for the Minister for Industrial Relations. Minister, it was recently revealed by the Age that members of the CFMEU have been holding clandestine meetings with notorious gangland figure Mick Gatto. Minister, can you reassure the house that members of the CFMEU working on Allan Labor government Big Build sites have not met and are not meeting with any gangland figures?

The PRESIDENT: I am just struggling as far as the minister’s responsibility –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I am happy to hear points of order, if it helps, but I am just struggling with –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I am not going to rule it out. I am happy to externalise my thoughts here. I am just thinking that –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Listen, I am trying to be helpful here. I am trying to work out whether – Mr Mulholland?

Evan Mulholland: If I can assist, President, the minister is the Minister for Industrial Relations. The minister has previously spoken publicly, both in this chamber and outside of it, about her responsibilities when it comes to industrial relations activities, particularly since last year and what happened with the CFMEU. There have been several pieces of legislation cracking down on associated gangland links and bikie links on construction sites, which the minister has spoken to, so I think it is in the interests of this chamber and I think the question does go to the point that this seems to be still happening on Victorian construction sites.

The PRESIDENT: That was helpful. We are all in this together. Thank you for helping me, and I will put the question to the minister.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:32): I thank Mr Welch for his first question as shadow minister for industrial relations. As you know, Mr Welch – because I am on record saying this, and I will continue to say it – I and the government, and I assume probably most people in the room, have zero tolerance for any type of illegal behaviour on worksites, and that extends to worksites that involve Victorian government projects. In relation to your question, I think I agree that Mr Mulholland’s contribution was quite helpful, because as he indicated, we have had several pieces of legislation that are designed to crack down on behaviour that has come to light in the construction industry and indeed have broader applications to other areas such as labour hire organisations and the like. We have responded comprehensively to the allegations of criminal and intimidatory behaviour involving the CFMEU, including commissioning the Wilson review. We have already had legislation implementing the Wilson review recommendations in relation particularly to a complaints line and referral line, and there is also the stop line that VIDA are working with. So to Mr Welch’s question: if he has knowledge of any concerning behaviour – Mr Welch or anybody else – then I would encourage him to refer any such information so that it can be dealt with appropriately.

In relation to other measures to strengthen government bodies’ ability to respond to allegations of criminal and other unlawful conduct in the construction sector, this year’s budget included $6 million to implement the full suite of recommendations, so we will continue to act on the conduct that is brought to our attention in relation to other criminal changes we have made. The anti-association laws were legislation that I brought in, not as industrial relations minister but as Attorney-General. So there are a range of measures that I can continue to point to, Mr Welch, and upon your new appointment I would encourage you to reach out to my office and arrange a briefing. I can ensure that you have –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: Mr Welch is nodding. With all of these questions, you can have a comprehensive understanding of the suite of measures that are new. The industrial regime changes quite dynamically, quite often, so we can give you the latest advice on what we are doing in Victoria. And indeed if you have got questions about federal matters, because it is a federal system, we can direct you to that as well.

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:35): I thank the minister for her answer. It is zero tolerance but zero effectiveness, clearly. Minister, two construction industry sources confirmed to the Age recently that CFMEU workers walked off the site on the more than $10 billion West Gate Tunnel Project over an industrial dispute in another state. I ask: is it acceptable that the CFMEU are holding Victorian taxpayers to ransom over a far-flung industrial dispute interstate, and what action will you take to ensure that this never happens again?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:36): Mr Welch, I do fail to see how your supplementary question relates to your substantive question. ‘Let’s just use the term CFMEU in every question and then they all relate to one another’ apparently is the new standing order for this chamber. But in relation to the matters that Mr Welch has raised, these are matters in another state and would be –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: Can I finish? And in relation to protected industrial action or otherwise, it would be a matter for the commission.