Hansard debates

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:11): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and the opportunity to clarify for the benefit of the house that Victoria Police is indeed an independent investigative agency, that it would be deeply inappropriate for me to cut across their work ‍–

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58(1)(b), the Premier is debating the question in an effort to not respond to the question, and I would ask you to bring the Premier to the exact question asked.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier was being directly relevant to the question that was asked, which referenced the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.

The SPEAKER: I will rule on that point of order. I cannot direct the Premier how to answer the question. The Premier was just commencing her answer.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was, Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity to continue to answer the question, because I was indeed being directly relevant to the question that was asked. I was not going to direct Victoria Police on how to conduct their independent work. Others have done that in the past; that is not how we will operate.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 58 again, the Premier is debating the question. The question asked why the Premier’s letter did not name the CFMEU.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: Where allegations have been raised with me, they have been referred to the relevant authority.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58, the Premier was not being direct in her answer to the question, we would submit. The Premier said at the conclusion of her answer that she refers all matters to Victoria Police. The very specific purpose of this question was indeed to ask the Premier why she did not refer the allegations of criminal conduct by the CFMEU to the chief commissioner when she wrote to the chief commissioner and did not do that. Standing order 58 is one of the vital checks and balances on the executive. If you are not, with respect, prepared to enforce it, then what is the point of the standing order? What is the point of question time? We have not been able to elicit one substantive answer on behalf of the Victorian people.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I would remind you that raising a point of order needs to be done also within the rules of the house. A point of order is not an opportunity to seek a further ruling from the Chair when I have already ruled on the point of the order.