Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): (1074) My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, the Premier went to China between 14 and 19 September. I ask: Treasurer, was the Premier authorised by the government to negotiate any borrowing or lines of credit while in China?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:20): I can confirm that the Premier did travel to China –

Harriet Shing: Our largest trading partner.

Jaclyn SYMES: Indeed. I also met with the Chinese consulate general following that visit regarding the benefits of visiting China in relation to ensuring that there are reduced barriers for our agricultural sector and encouraging more visitation and therefore adding to the Victorian economy. But the way you phrased your question is not how our systems work.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:20): We all support the effort to sell more Victorian goods to China –

Harriet Shing: Do you?

David DAVIS: Absolutely. I sure do. I was active in work there, and Mr Baillieu took a huge group of people to China –

Members interjecting.

David DAVIS: Well, there was the super trade mission, the biggest in China’s history, that was taken by Mr Baillieu. So that would be a good start, but let me just get –

David Ettershank: On a point of order, President, I would really like to hear what Mr Davis has to say.

Members interjecting.

David Ettershank: And I would like to have my point of order heard by the President as well. So, yes, could we have a little respect, please, for the asking of questions?

The PRESIDENT: I will call the house to order. I was just worried that Mr Davis might run out of time to ask his question, because there was a bit across the –

David DAVIS: I should not be drawn by interjections.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, ignore interjections as well.

David DAVIS: My question then to the Treasurer is: was the Premier authorised prior to the travel by the cabinet or the expenditure review committee, of which you are chair, to negotiate with any contractors on the multibillion-dollar cost overruns on the Big Build projects like the Metro Tunnel or the SRL?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:22): There are a lot of incorrect assertions in the way you have characterised your question, Mr Davis. I am not the chair of that committee either. The short answer to your question is no. But what I am concerned about is that the way you framed your question demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of how the state’s finances work in relation to lending and borrowing. If you would like more information about TCV and how they do our borrowings, then that might help you ask a question that indeed could be answered.