Wednesday, 17 June 2026

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:09): (1359) My question today is to the Special Minister of State. Last night the Premier appeared on ABC’s 7.30 and refused to answer repeated questions over how much alleged corruption on Big Build sites has cost Victorians. It has been evident from past responses from the government that it does not want to give a dollar amount as to the alleged funds that are alleged to have been lost to corruption on these sites. So instead can I ask, Minister: to your understanding, can you inform the house what is the scale and scope of the alleged corruption that is alleged to have occurred on government Big Build sites?

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, it is a strange question, but the minister can answer it as she sees fit.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Government Services, Special Minister of State, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria) (12:10): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question. Of course some of the information that the member is seeking is not directly within the Special Minister of State’s remit, but what I can talk about is our government’s commitment to making sure that this kind of behaviour is not only not tolerated but stamped out. Others across the government, including the Premier, have said that we have taken strong and decisive action already, and we have zero tolerance for unlawful behaviour on any Victorian worksite, whether that is a Big Build worksite or a private project. There is already evidence that the additional powers that have been provided to Victoria Police and the Labour Hire Authority are resulting in significant charges being laid and over 150 labour hire licences being cancelled. This is immediate action right now.

In addition to that, I have obviously made it very clear that in response to the important work of the Integrity and Oversight Committee when it comes to the powers and the scope of IBAC’s work, IBAC is an independent agency and I do not seek to speak on behalf of them. However, the government has provided a comprehensive response to the work of the IOC committee. We have indicated that it is complex work – it will require detailed analysis – because we have to get the balance right between procedural fairness and also acknowledging that there are powers that –

Aiv Puglielli: On a point of order, President – and apologies, Minister, for the interruption – just to come back to the question, it was not with respect to the government’s responses to these issues; it was regarding the scale and scope of what has been alleged on these sites. If you could bring the minister back to the question.

The PRESIDENT: The minister addressed that at the start of her answer in terms of where her responsibilities and remit lie.

Ingrid STITT: I was going to issues that are relevant to my portfolio responsibilities, which the member is required to actually have some regard to when asking questions in the chamber.

Aiv Puglielli: President, I was not going to do any further points of order. But, Minister, you are leading the work of government in transparency, integrity and accountability. They are not my words; they are the Premier’s words post the ministerial reshuffle. This is directly within your remit.

The PRESIDENT: That is just debating the point of order. The minister to continue.

Ingrid STITT: I do note that the very issues I was just going to Mr Puglielli has taken points of order over. I was in the process of saying that this is complex work because we have an interconnected integrity system here in Victoria. There are multiple integrity agencies involved in that work. That is why the government has committed to standing up an expert reference group, which will have all those key integrity agencies on it, chaired by the secretary of my department. That careful work will occur at that level, and then we will have a legislative proposal to bring back to the Parliament. This is incredibly important work. We want to get it right. It is easy for some people in here to ridicule that effort, but I am very committed to working closely with all the integrity agencies to get it right.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Mr Puglielli has not interjected during the answers to his question, so respect him and the minister.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:15): Minister, in your response you referred to some of the government’s commitments in responding to what has been alleged regarding these sites. Specifically, that response included the establishment of the expert reference group. It has been characterised as a review of a review in some parts of the community. But given this government has already opposed follow-the-money laws from both the Greens and from the opposition, are you seeking advice from this group because you do not know if what is alleged to have occurred on these sites is corruption, or is this just kicking it off to beyond the election?

The PRESIDENT: I think that is asking the minister for an opinion.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I appreciate the voices in my head trying to help me.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: It is very helpful. I will put the question to the minister, and she can answer as she sees fit.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Government Services, Special Minister of State, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria) (12:16): I will draw the member back to the comprehensive government response to the IOC committee report, which includes a commitment to expand the scope of IBAC’s powers to include follow-the-money powers and includes a commitment to change the definition of ‘corrupt conduct’, something I note those opposite have not committed to do. In fact they spoke against it. Jess Wilson got on ABC radio and said she did not support changing the definition. I have very clear advice from my department that if you do not do both, then you render powerless and toothless any changes to follow-the-money powers.