Thursday, 30 July 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:54): (2467) My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business. Minister, why did your office block a private meeting between the interim small business commissioner and me, a meeting to raise concerns from my local chambers of commerce? On 11 June I wrote to the commission requesting a meeting. Nearly a month later the reply came, not from the commissioner but from your senior adviser, insisting the meeting include senior departmental officials and himself – yet another example of an independent commissioner being undermined by the government. I was very clear that any meeting should be between the commissioner, his staff and me. That was three weeks ago. I followed up on Tuesday – silence. Minister, as the Premier’s factional lieutenant, this interference stands in stark contrast to the government’s phoney newfound commitment to integrity. What are you hiding?

The PRESIDENT: We will review that one.