Thursday, 24 September 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:34): President, I notice in the Assembly the Speaker has taken an active role in ensuring that ministers answer outstanding questions on notice. There are many, many questions, some going back to 20 December 2022. I wonder whether the Leader of the Government would be prepared to give a commitment that questions will be answered, and whether you might seek to take an active role, as the Speaker has in the Assembly, to ensure that outstanding questions on notice are answered before the end of the Parliament.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, you and I over the years have had this conversation. We really want to respect and make sure there is an independence between both chambers, and I am determined to keep that. There may be certain activities that happen in the Assembly that we would not want to –

David Davis interjected.

The PRESIDENT: I cannot remember the last conversation we had where you and I thought they were doing something good. I think I will just leave my response at that.

 Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:36): I have several unanswered questions, so if I could just work with the minister to get them addressed.

The PRESIDENT: Is there any particular minister, or is it a number?

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL: There are half-a-dozen numbers here.

The PRESIDENT: Is there any particular minister that they were directed to?

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL: It would be numerous.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Symes has indicated that if you pass that on, she will do that.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:37): I also have several unanswered questions, in fact 25 unanswered questions, spanning about two or three years. I have got a list. I am happy to give it to the Leader of the Government too.

The PRESIDENT: Is there a main minister that you –

Evan MULHOLLAND: There are lots of minister: the Minister for Education, the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation and the Minister for Police.

The PRESIDENT: Okay. Mr Erdogan, can you make a commitment to take that list?

Enver Erdogan: Yes. Thank you, Mr Mulholland.

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:37): I also rise to remind the house that I have at least 25 unanswered questions, also to a variety of portfolios, from police to emergency services, education and health, and would like to have all of those responded to as well, please.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Erdogan, you represent police, so could you make a commitment to Mrs Hermans that you will take her list and follow up.

Enver Erdogan: Yes. Thank you, Mrs Hermans.

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:38): I too have numerous questions unanswered – in fact 31, to be precise. They start with the Minister for Emergency Services, and they probably go through the full cocktail of ministers that have not answered questions. Where would you like me to land them?

The PRESIDENT: Who represents the minister for cocktails?

Enver Erdogan interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Erdogan has committed to it.

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:38): I have 63 outstanding, over many, many, many months, and the majority of them are to the Minister for Environment but not all. I will make sure that they resend them to the Minister for Environment.

Jaclyn Symes: I am more than happy to have a look at that. But if anybody sees what I do in my chamber duty time, I sign questions on notice, and since becoming the Minister for Environment I have signed probably 400 QONs. So I just want to counter with: yes, we are more than happy to have a look at the questions you have raised, but there are hundreds of responses that go back.

The PRESIDENT: There is an indication that maybe they are on the way.

David Davis: For the record, there are 217 outstanding that I see there.

Lee Tarlamis: On a point of order, President, for the record, I do not have any unanswered.

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:40): I just wanted to join in. I have got 19 unanswered questions for a variety of ministers.

The PRESIDENT: Is there a particular one you would like to pick on? I reckon you should hand your list to Minister Blandthorn.

Lizzie Blandthorn: I am happy to follow that up for you, Dr Mansfield.