Thursday, 4 June 2026

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:18): (1344) My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Section 39 of the Labour Hire Licensing Act gives the Labour Hire Authority the power to immediately suspend a licence. How is it possible that a company owned by a serial family violence perpetrator which was employed under the state’s Working for Women initiative, which is operated by family violence abusers, drug dealers and bikies and contracted to the Big Build to provide women in construction via Women in Construction at rates of up to 20 per cent above market not a candidate for immediate suspension?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:19): There are a couple of things in the question, Mr Welch. Again, I have lost count of the number of times in both the role as Treasurer and indeed as Attorney-General, when I have got portfolio responsibility for independent agencies, that there is the expectation that I can instruct how they conduct their investigations or the decisions that they make.

It is actually terrifying that this is what that side of the house think would be appropriate behaviour. In relation to a decision that is made by an independent agency, Mr Welch, I put on record that I will never intervene in an investigation or a decision that a labour hire authority makes. When it comes to the Labour Hire Authority, my understanding in relation to the matter that you have raised is that they have been given a notice of cancellation, and the only reason I can actually tell you that is because of the legislative changes that we made in this place that you opposed.

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:20): That is very good, but it is still not the same as immediate suspension, is it? It is amazing, isn’t it? Like every part of corruption across the Big Build programs, it is quite extraordinary, isn’t it? ‘Not us, not us.’ The labour hiring commission has failed to use its immediate suspension powers and move them on. How can you, let alone the Victorian public, have any confidence in cleaning up corruption on Big Build sites if it has failed to immediately suspend this company?

The PRESIDENT: I think that is asking the minister for an opinion, but I will let her answer as she sees fit.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:21): Mr Welch, again, there are workers on worksites that have got no allegations that have been made against them, and they are continuing to do that good work. In relation to the company that you have identified, as I confirmed in my answer to your substantive –

David Davis interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: Sorry, Mr Davis?

David Davis: I said there are certainly allegations against them.

Jaclyn SYMES: Allegations against the workers on the worksites? If you have any of that information, you should bring that forward. In relation to the –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is answering.

Jaclyn SYMES: It is disappointing that you are reflecting on an individual case and what you think should happen, because as I said, this is an independent agency. As I have said, with the advice that I have, which I can reveal to the chamber because of the legislative changes we made, I can confirm that on 7 May the Labour Hire Authority notified the relevant procurement agencies and VIDA of a notice of intention to refuse Women in Construction’s application to – (Time expired)