Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:07): (1254) My question is to the Minister for Water. Yesterday Goulburn–Murray Water said:

M1 Traffic Control and Labour Hire Goulburn Valley are not currently supplying any services to GMW and they have been suspended from entering any further contracts.

Minister, has M1 traffic control previously supplied services to Goulburn–Murray Water?

The PRESIDENT: I will call the minister, but once again it is one contractor out of, I imagine, many. But I am sure the minister is happy to assist the chamber as best she can.

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:07): I do thank Ms Bath for her question. She is accurate in that I am advised that M1 traffic control and labour hire Goulburn Valley are not currently supplying any services to Goulburn–Murray Water. I am also further advised that it has been suspended from any procurement panel involvement. I can also further advise that the water corporation board has commissioned an internal review into the establishment of the contract. The important thing here is that due process needs to be followed at all times, and of course the fact of the matter is that I understand that the relevant Victorian regulator, the Labour Hire Authority, is currently taking enforcement action in relation to M1 traffic control and labour hire Goulburn Valley.

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:09): Minister, has M1 traffic control or any other company affiliated with M Group supplied services to any other Victorian water authorities? And if so, please inform us.

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:09): Again, what I can say to Ms Bath and the chamber is that due process needs to be followed. It is very important, particularly when you are dealing with live investigations and in the arena of allegations. To that end, what I can inform the house is that I have commissioned the department to develop a probity procurement guidance update to guide water corporations on procurement probity decisions when there are live investigations underway in relation to the building and construction sector.