Motion: Attempt to Introduce: Integrity of Government Construction Projects Bill 2026

MOTION:

‘ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE: INTEGRITY OF GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BILL 2026’.

Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (09:35):

I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to ensure the integrity of government construction projects, to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and for other purposes.

This week the coalition has released its plan to clean up Victorian Government worksites. We have seen each day the Coalition seek to move a Private Members Bill in this place to clean up Victorian government worksites, and every single day every Labor Member of this place has voted against it.

Today we move the third element of our plan of Private Members Bills to seek to clean up government worksites. What this plan will do is make sure today in this Bill that those who have been convicted or found guilty of or subject to pending charges for specified serious offences, including organised crime, fraud, intimidation, harassment and certain industrial offences, will not be on Victorian Government worksites, because we know that criminals are. We have seen expert evidence confirm that activity on Victorian Government worksites has been akin to organised crime – organised crime on our Government worksites. What this Bill will do is to say that criminals will not be on Government worksites.

I would expect and suspect that every Victorian already thinks that is the case. I would think that most Victorians would say, ‘Well, why aren’t our Government worksites clean? Why aren’t they?’ That is why we have all been so, frankly, shocked by what is clearly the biggest instance of corruption our State has ever been struck by, under the watch of this Government – $15 billion of corrupted taxpayer money – which is why the Coalition has said we need a Royal Commission and we need a Royal Commission now. We need to get to the bottom of where every dollar has gone, and we need to get it back. But more than that, this week the Coalition have announced our plan to go further than simply holding a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of where the money has gone. Our plan will clean up Government worksites. Earlier this week, absolutely shockingly, when we attempted to expand IBAC’s powers every Labor Member voted against it.

Roma Britnell interjected.

James NEWBURY: Shame. We have seen the Members in the Council and Members in this place from the Labor Party vote against powers that our chief anti-corruption agency has asked for and that we have tried to give it as a Coalition.

Yesterday, the Member for Sandringham moved the second plank in our plan to ensure that we have a construction code and enforcement of that code. How could it be that Labor Members voted against our anti-corruption agency having those powers and then against having a cop on the beat, frankly, in terms of oversight of construction sites? Today we are seeking to move to ensure that certain criminals are not on Government worksites – criminals. I cannot believe I have to say it. I hope with this speech, this attempt to convince the Government, that we will see them today come to their senses, because if they vote against this they are saying, ‘We want criminals on Government worksites.’ That is what they are saying. If the Government do not vote to allow this bill, they are saying, ‘We want criminals on Government worksites. We still want them there.’