Hansard debates

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (13:21:50): This week marks the fifth anniversary of Labor’s return to power. This government business program again defines why Labor matters. Victoria’s economy leads the nation, setting the world record for continuous growth. The big picture redefines— Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, although I can appreciate that the member for Broadmeadows has only been going for a short period of time, in his initial statements he has already deviated from the parameters of this particular debate, which is very narrowly confined to the government business program. In keeping with your ruling with regard to the member for Macedon’s contribution I ask you to do the same with the member for Broadmeadows and keep him within the confines of this debate rather than talking about the achievements, as he likes— Ms Thomas interjected. Mr R Smith: The member for Macedon has been here long enough to know that this debate is not the place. Where there might be many, many opportunities, be they matters of public importance, be they grievances, be they members statements, to talk about the achievements of the government as the members see fit, the debate on the government business program is not such an opportunity. I ask you, Deputy Speaker, to not only remind the member for Macedon of this but also direct the member for Broadmeadows to keep his comments within the parameters and the precedents of this house. Mr McGUIRE: On the point of order, Deputy Speaker, I am trying to establish the context of this debate. The economy is critical. What we are going to do—and I am going to link this back into the building and environment protection legislation and the other specific bills—is to define it. I mean, the proposition on— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The point of order is taken. I encourage members to speak on the business program that is before the house. Mr McGUIRE: The proposition on the Local Government Bill 2019 is pretty straightforward: greater scrutiny, accountability and compliance. Got that? Okay, that is what is going to be done, all right? You can get up and make a contribution on that, one after the other. It would be good to hear some detailed analysis, because it would make a great change. Do you understand that? Let us actually have it. Mr Wells: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, that is the whole point of our argument today. We want to go into consideration in detail so we can go into it sequentially and be able to go through the facts and figures to make sure there is no disadvantage to Victorians. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The member for Broadmeadows, to continue. Mr McGUIRE: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. It is another stunt because they do not want to hear the inconvenient truth about how well Victoria is going. That is what it is. That is the issue. So here is the point. Do you want to know a little bit more about this bill? This bill will strengthen the powers—this is what it is going to do. Members interjecting. Mr McGUIRE: You can do it in your contribution; there is no problem. Mr Wells: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I think you gave a warning about debating the contents of the actual bill, and the member for Broadmeadows is going down that path, so I would ask you to bring him back to debating the government business program. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Broadmeadows was going to address the contents of the government business program. Mr McGUIRE: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. The argument is straightforward: they have got almost an entire day to make their contributions. This is what you need to do; this is the opportunity; this is what you have. This is another way that they do not want to hear how well the economy is going, they do not want to hear the big picture that the Victorian government is delivering—and this business program deals directly with it. I am giving the context so there can be no further argument. This is what is in this government business program, and the opportunity is there. Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, given that the member’s contribution was supposed to stop any further argument, I would like to ask the Leader of the House why she did not let him go first? The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The member for Broadmeadows, to continue. I encourage members not to make frivolous points of order. Mr McGUIRE: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I know they are going through the end of a hard year where relevance deprivation is obviously the issue that they need to contend with, but we actually have an important—again—government business program. It is part of how this government is laying out its strategy on all these different issues to be able to drive the economy. In the time that I have got left I do want to make a reference to the apology that will be given. I think that is incredibly important to those who have suffered from child abuse and that will hopefully lift the debate in this chamber and address something beyond just having these arguments in that way.