Thursday, 4 December 2025

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:22): (1177) My question is for the Treasurer. Treasurer, will you confirm for the house that the former commissioner for economic growth and better regulation, Ms Cressida Wall, has been the recipient of an extraordinary and excessive employment settlement of up to $2 million following accusations of bullying of staff by Ms Wall?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:23): Mr Davis, I am not in a position to provide you information on that matter.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:23): Well, that is extraordinary – an officer in the sector that you are responsible for. You would know about these matters.

Jaclyn Symes: It’s not a matter for me.

David DAVIS: It is DTF, and you are the lead minister.

Members interjecting.

David DAVIS: You are the lead minister. Will the Treasurer confirm that Ms Wall was subject to bullying accusations by senior Department of Treasury and Finance staff?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:23): Mr Davis, as I said, I am not in a position to provide a commentary on this matter. I do not think it would be appropriate, even if it was within my portfolio. The minister for economic growth is a DJSIR minister, and that portfolio fits not within DTF. But in any event, I am concerned about the fact that you have put on the public record matters in this way – alleged matters in this way. As I said, I am not in a position to provide any information in response to your question.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, the Treasurer is in a position to provide an answer on this matter. The matter of whether her staff were involved in this is a question that she can answer.

The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister did answer the question.