Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:24): (601) My question is to the Minister for Mental Health.
We know that CFMEU officials on taxpayer-funded worksites have bullied, have intimidated, have
threatened, have abused and have harmed the mental health of workers across Victoria for years and
the government was warned about this misconduct. Minister, is it the Labor government’s policy to
expend the mental health of Victorian workers in favour of appeasing CFMEU officials and delegates?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister
for Multicultural Affairs) (12:24): That is an absolutely despicable and embarrassing question to put.
I completely reject that. It is a grubby, grubby question. Our government will never, ever put –
Members interjecting.
Ingrid STITT: Our government takes incredibly seriously the health and safety and the mental
health and wellbeing of all Victorians, including those working across the Victorian economy, indeed
including the construction industry.
The Premier has been very clear about our government’s position in relation to these matters. She has
condemned the behaviour that we saw on the 60 Minutes program a couple of weeks ago, and she has
outlined very strongly what the government will be doing in response. That includes having an
independent investigation into these matters and into the construction sector. It includes having a
review of enterprise bargaining agreements in place across our construction projects in Victoria. It
includes working closely with the federal government on matters to do with industrial relations, given
that those opposite referred those powers to Canberra about 30 years ago.
In relation to the mental health and wellbeing of Victorians, the kind of behaviour that we have seen
is completely unacceptable. We have condemned it, and we will continue to make sure that we roll
out every recommendation of the royal commission into mental health and wellbeing in our state so
that we can make sure that people get the support they need, where they live, when they need it. The
reality is this: no worker in any workplace deserves to be subjected to that kind of behaviour. We have
been absolutely clear about that. We will never – never – stop fighting for the health and safety of
Victorian workers.
Members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT: We have got a pretty small chamber, and there are not as many of us as in the
other chamber. I like the thing where we do not eject people. I like it. I think it is good. I will tell you:
I am close to ejecting myself. If people can respect the person that has got the call, that would be great.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:27): Minister, have any allegations of misconduct by the
CFMEU been raised with you, formally or informally?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister
for Multicultural Affairs) (12:28): No.
