MPs walk out of question time, accuse Premier of dodging questions on CFMEU scandal

Opposition MPs have spectacularly walked out of Question Time, accusing Premier Jacinta Allan of avoiding questions on the CFMEU scandal.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has accused the Premier of deliberately avoiding questions about the CFMEU scandal. Picture: David Crosling

Opposition MPs have spectacularly walked out of Question Time, accusing Jacinta Allan of failing to answer questions about the CFMEU scandal.

Prior to the unprecedented stunt, Opposition Leader John Pesutto had been on a war path about the way Question Time was being run by Legislative Assembly speaker, and Labor MP, Maree Edwards.

Mr Pesutto has claimed Ms Edwards is running a “protection racket” for the government, accusing her of failing to force the Premier to answer questions.

The opposition had asked 24 questions over three days that related to Ms Allan’s knowledge of allegations of kickbacks, standover tactics, bribery and the infiltration of bikies and underworld figures on Big Build projects.

Opposition MPs have walked out of Question Time early after accusing Premier Jacinta Allan of not answering their questions about the CFMEU scandal. #springstpic.twitter.com/YJbjWhDRVI

— Mitch Clarke (@96mitchclarke) August 1, 2024

Ms Allan had refused to say how many times she had been made aware of complaints relating to the CFMEU.

She instead repeatedly said she had referred any allegations to relevant authorities.

In wild scenes during a heated Question Time on Thursday afternoon, every Liberal and Nationals MP got up and walked out of the chamber in protest.

Only the Manager of Opposition Business James Newbury remained in the chamber.

After the walkout, Greens leader Ellen Sandell said: “We always knew the Greens were the real opposition”, prompting laughs from Ms Allan.

Opposition MPs walk out of Question Time. Picture: David Crosling

Outside parliament, Mr Pesutto held a press conference with all Coalition MPs, where he launched an extraordinary attack on the Speaker.

“Maree Edwards is working closely with the Premier Jacinta Allan making sure that we can’t insist on basic answers to simple questions,” he said.

“They’re not complicated questions. They only require a simple answer and the Speaker this week, I’m afraid to say, assisted the Premier in avoiding accountability.”

Nationals leader Peter Walsh added that Ms Edwards was “failing in her job” to hold the government to account.

John Pesutto and members of the opposition in front of parliament after their protest walk-out. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Pesutto said the opposition will be back in Question Time when parliament resumes on August 13 but said Thursday’s stunt was necessary.

“We have to send a message on behalf of all Victorians that Question Time is an important part of the checks and balances that this parliament is supposed to secure,” he said.

“And yet Premier Jacinta Allan will not respect this institution and therefore will not respect the Victorian people by answering those questions that all of my colleagues and I are asking on behalf of all Victorians.

“Under the Allan Labor government we are seeing the most corrupt, the most divisive, the most inept government, arguably, in Victoria’s history.”

In recent months, the opposition has been highly critical of the Greens for using the parliament to conduct stunts.

Stormy week in parliament

It comes during a fiery week at parliament, the Allan government on Thursday blocking an attempt by the state opposition to introduce a Bill to strengthen Victorian bail laws amid a youth crime crisis.

Earlier this week, the state opposition spectacularly accused Labor’s parliamentary Speaker of running a protection racket for Ms Allan.

During a heated Question Time on Wednesday, Opposition Leader John Pesutto blasted Legislative Assembly Speaker Maree Edwards, arguing she hadn’t been forcing Ms Allan to answer questions from Coalition MPs.

Mr Pesutto’s outburst was sparked after a question from dumped Labor MP Darren Cheeseman, who was booted from the party in April after allegations of “persistent and inappropriate behaviour”.

Mr Cheeseman, who has never explicitly addressed the allegations but said he would continue to serve his electorate, returned to parliament this week for the first time since he was kicked out of Labor.

Darren Cheeseman returned to parliament this week for the first time since he was kicked out of Labor. Picture: Facebook

Because he is now sitting on the crossbench as an independent MP, Mr Cheeseman is allocated to ask questions of the government during Question Time.

In his first question, Mr Cheeseman asked Ms Allan to outline the positive benefits that government investment in his South Barwon electorate would have on his constituents.

Mr Pesutto then accused the government of “getting protection from a disgraced member”.

“What a joke. This is so pathetic,” he said.

Mr Pesutto raised a point of order — questioning whether correct procedure had been followed — to Ms Edwards, claiming that she hadn’t forced Ms Allan to directly answer questions put to her.

“We have tried repeatedly yesterday and today (Wednesday) to require you, with respect, to order the Premier to answer questions on relevance,” he said to Ms Edwards.

“And yet this discredited government gets protection from that disgraced member (Darren Cheeseman) (and then they are then) allowed to waffle on and not address the questions we ask on behalf of the Victorian people.”

John Pesutto accused Ms Edwards of not forcing Ms Allan to answer other questions about the CFMEU scandal or other issues plaguing the government. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mr Pesutto accused Ms Edwards of not forcing Ms Allan to answer other questions about the CFMEU scandal or other issues plaguing the government.

“We’ve got CFMEU intimidation and corruption, we’ve got roads that are riddled with potholes and the people pay for it,” he added.

“This is a joke. This isn’t parliamentary accountability, this isn’t scrutiny. This is a protection racket and it’s provided all by the discredited member for South Barwon.”

Ms Edwards dismissed Mr Pesutto’s point of order, but Ms Allan fired back: “In answering questions in this place, I will not be gagged by the Leader of the Opposition … I will talk with pride about the investment our government is making.”

Manager of Opposition Business James Newbury said Question Time was “unworkable”.