Tuesday, 17 March 2026

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:29): (1266) My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. On 5 February the Labor Hire Authority announced it had suspended the licence of Labor Party donor BK Labour Hire of 574 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne, almost two months after the arrest of company personnel was reported in the Age. Can the minister advise if the authority is investigating the similarly named BK traffic construction, which also operates out of a unit at 574 Plummer Street, which the authority website indicates still holds an active licence?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:30): I thank Mr Welch for his question. Mr Welch, as you would appreciate, I cannot directly provide information in relation to the current, former or prospective investigations of the Labour Hire Authority. I can certainly have a conversation with the Labour Hire Authority, because as you would appreciate, when we made amendments in the last tranche of reforms for the LHA – which you seemed pretty against, actually, in terms of the exchange of information – there is the ability, where it is in the public interest, for us to have greater conversations with the LHA in their role, and the information can come either out to the public or via me as minister. I can certainly seek some more information on your behalf, because I do not have a ready reckoner of all of the investigations of the LHA currently in my folder. Perhaps I can come back to you after making some inquiries. But again, I would point out that there would not be a Labour Hire Authority to make inquiries of if you mob had your way, nor would they be able to provide me with information had you had your way in the most recent amendments to the legislation. I really appreciate your new-found admiration for a body that you did not even want to exist.

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:32): Thank you, Minister, for that interesting answer. This is what zero tolerance looks like, the wilful lack of curiosity – the similar number. The Industry Capability Network website has details of an 11 May 2022 SRL industry briefing when a listed attendee representing BK Labour Hire has the exact same name as the current nominated officer for BK traffic construction on the LHA website. Will the minister ensure that the links between BK traffic construction and BK Labour Hire are fully investigated, or does it first need to be reported in the Age before your government will act?

The PRESIDENT: The minister can pick one question; there were a couple there.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:32): Mr Welch, the LHA do important work. As you indicated before, you had identified the number of licences that have been cancelled by the Labour Hire Authority. 147 construction licences have been cancelled by the Labour Hire Authority.

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: Well, since you asked your question, I have been able to obtain some more information, as I said I would. 147 labour hire licences in the construction industry have been cancelled since the scheme commenced, and 126 construction company licences were cancelled in the last financial year. That is a lot of different companies and a lot of different licences. As you would appreciate, I do not have a list of all of the names and all of the entities.

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: President, I have answered Mr Welch’s supplementary question in my substantive answer, and I am more than happy to put anything to the Labour Hire Authority, because they do really important work and only exist because of the government taking – (Time expired)