Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:24): (1386) My question is for the Minister for Industrial Relations. Nick McKenzie and Kieran Rooney have reported in the Age that in 2023 the government received a detailed written warning from four high-ranking public servants and that this document was made a cabinet document. The document made clear that criminal and bikie infiltration of the Big Build was known, understood and of significant concern. It made clear it created a risk to ‘significantly’ – their emphasis – impact project costs and schedule if not addressed. The report described how a lawless CFMEU was driving an industrial relations environment on the Big Build that was not only highly challenging but ‘having a bearing on project costs, program, productivity and culture’. As the Minister for Industrial Relations, given this is of material significance, when were you briefed on this?

The PRESIDENT: I am unsure whether the minister was the minister for IR in 2023, but I call the minister and she can answer as she sees fit.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: She may not have been briefed, because she may not have been the IR minister.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:25): Mr Welch, it is my view and most other ministers’ view that you do not comment on cabinet discussions outside of cabinet, short of making government announcements as a result of decisions that have been made in the cabinet room. You have referenced a document and asked about its relevance to me as the minister at a time when I was not the minister, so I could not be briefed as the Minister for Industrial Relations at that time.

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:26): I did not say, ‘When you were not the minister.’ I said, ‘When you became the minister, were you briefed as the incoming minister?’ What we have is a document of material significance, of material consequence to your portfolio, but you were not curious enough to read it or get a briefing on it. The supplementary question is quite simple in that context: will you undertake to the Parliament to go and get a briefing on that and report back to this Parliament on it?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:26): I do not accept the premise of your question, Mr Welch. You are asserting knowledge of the status of a document – a cabinet document, a briefing document, the timing. I do not support the premise of your question.

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: To the interjections, I take my role as a member of cabinet, as a member of the executive, very, very seriously and act in accordance with my views of integrity at all times. But I do not accept your characterisation of a question when you do not sit in the cabinet room.