Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:16): (1375) My question is to the Treasurer. Former IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich recently said of Big Build corruption that a royal commission is:

… the only mechanism for properly investigating … 10 years of rotten culture.

… I know of no scandal that has involved the sort of public wastage that has occurred here … it’s only a royal commission that can root out all of the … reasons why the checks and balances that are in place have failed.

Mr Redlich also said the Big Build provided an environment in which bikie gangs and criminal organisations have been able to flourish and Victorian taxpayers are not getting value for money because some contractors had to pay an extortion fee to be able to survive the Big Build. Given that Mr Redlich is one of the most distinguished integrity figures in the state and that now the government has shown Jacinta Allan the door, will you now support a royal commission?

The PRESIDENT: I would have thought that was a question for one of the justice portfolios rather than the Treasurer. If you want to rephrase it so it has something to do with the Treasurer, you can.

Bev McARTHUR: I am very happy to direct it to the Minister for Industrial Relations.

The PRESIDENT: I think the Treasurer is prepared to assist the chamber, so I will call the Treasurer to answer as she sees fit.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:18): Mrs McArthur, whilst I believe that you have not directed a question relevant to the Treasurer or the Minister for Industrial Relations in the way you framed your question, I am more than happy to respond in a similar way to comments that I am well on the record for in this place. We have no tolerance for criminal behaviour, intimidatory behaviour and any –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Treasurer could have not responded whatsoever because it is not in her remit, but she is assisting the chamber, so she should be heard in silence.

Jaclyn SYMES: As I was saying, we have a zero-tolerance approach to these allegations, which is why we acted swiftly. It is why we have implemented all of the recommendations from the Wilson report. It is why we have taken action and strengthened the powers of the Labour Hire Authority. It is why we have broadened the definition in relation to the fit and proper person test; if you go and check the Hansard, Mr Welch was very, very concerned about the people that might be caught up in an expanded program that was designed to make sure that we identified and weeded out poor behaviour. I would point to the support for Victoria Police. In their taskforce they have made arrests and there are charges, and that should continue for any further allegations. There is a complaint line that is under the WIV, and I would encourage anybody who has any bit of information, whether it is an allegation or just something that they might be aware of, that this is a safe place to go. You can do it anonymously, and obviously, as Minister for Industrial Relations, it is an agency that I am very proud of. They are working hand in glove with a range of other agencies to make sure that people can be supported if they have got issues to raise. That work is underway.

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:20): Former Ombudsman Deborah Glass has said this about the government’s attitude to major projects:

… it doesn’t care what it costs … It doesn’t care what else is involved. It just keeps on digging

There seems to be no desire to expose where those public funds have gone. Treasurer, now that Jacinta Allan has gone, will you show more interest in finding out where those public funds have gone?

The PRESIDENT: The Treasurer can answer as she sees fit.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:21): I refer to my answer that I provided Mrs McArthur to her substantive question.