Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:51): (1403) My question is to the Minister for Environment. Minister, the Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill passed this house, the Legislative Council, on 19 June after the government accepted the Liberal and Nationals amendments and argued that the reforms were urgent. Given the government had the opportunity to pass the bill last sitting week in the lower house, why have you still not progressed the legislation and established fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation Victoria?

The PRESIDENT: I will let the minister answer as she sees fit. I am not too sure how she can.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (13:51): Whilst I acknowledge Ms Bath’s interest in this matter, the way she has framed her question is that she has literally asked me, as the Minister for Environment, to comment on the operations of the Legislative Assembly. I am just not in a position to answer the question in the way it has been framed, because I do not control government business in the Legislative Assembly.

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:52): Firstly, Minister, you have just acknowledged that you are the minister covering off on outdoor recreation. You are at the table, you are in cabinet and you are the leader here, and you have a right to respond. Minister, I ask: hunters were promised certainty, but now it appears you are about to renege. As minister, can you guarantee the future of sustainable duck hunting in Victoria?

The PRESIDENT: I do not know if that is relevant to the substantive question or the answer.

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, the whole position on the outdoor rec bill was about amalgamating two authorities and the GMA going forward, and therefore part of that is duck hunting, so it is entirely relevant to the substantive question.

The PRESIDENT: I do understand all that, Ms Bath, but the response from the minister was that she is not responsible for the dealings of the other chamber, which is a fair answer, so I find it hard to find that a supplementary question. The minister can answer as she sees fit. She might answer the way I have explained it myself.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (13:54): I am going to try and help you out here. The bill is in the Assembly. I do not know, maybe they are doing it now. I do not have advice on their timing. So the fact that you have asked me a –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: President, I renege my offer to be helpful.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, let us do that, because the minister was trying –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Am I some sort of ventriloquist or something? I cannot hear myself. My lips are moving, but it is being projected over there constantly. Anyway, I will let that go.