Motion - Government Business Program

MEMBERS STATEMENT

‘PROPERTY TAX’.

Tuesday, 18 March 2025.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (12:45):

I rise to oppose the Government Business Program.

I do note there has been some debate today about the Bail Bill, which is on the Program; the associated briefing which led to that Bill and the lateness of that briefing; and when the Bill was provided.

I do note in those briefings there were discussions around the new bail test for serious repeat offenders and also the new uplift offence for committing an indictable offence whilst on bail. I do not want to speak to the specifics of the Bail Bill today, but I would note for the House’s and more broadly for Victorians’ awareness that those two new measures are not included in the Bail Bill. Despite the Premier promising to fix crime, repeat offenders who break bail will not be dealt with by this Bill.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton, I would ask you not to anticipate debate.

James NEWBURY: I am not. As I said, Speaker, I am not referring to any matters within the Bill. I am referring to matters –

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton, I would ask you not to argue with the Chair.

James NEWBURY: I am not arguing with the Chair.

The SPEAKER: I would ask you not to anticipate debate.

James NEWBURY: As I said, discussion in those Bill briefings made clear two offences that were committed to be fixed by the Premier will not be fixed this week in Parliament – how craven. What a fibber this Premier is to promise a fix and not deliver it.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On a point of order, Speaker, the former Manager of Government Business surely knows –

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

Mary-Anne Thomas: that the Government Business Program is not an opportunity to disparage the Premier in the way that he is.

James NEWBURY: I did not disparage her.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would ask Members to be a little respectful.

James NEWBURY: Of course.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, I would ask you to speak to the Government Business Program.

James NEWBURY: I am speaking to the Government Business Program.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would ask you not to argue with the Chair. The Member for Brighton to talk to the Government Business Program.

James NEWBURY: This week in Parliament we will be considering a Bail Bill that does not cover all of the elements that were committed to and that were discussed in the Bill briefing, which has been the subject of some debate during this motion debate, elements that the community expect, need and demand urgently. They are not included in this Bill. I do not think Victorians are fully aware of that yet.

I think Victorians will shortly be aware of that, because they know that this whole last week was nothing more than a political smokescreen – a farce – that will not fix the problems in this State. To know that two of the most important fixes needed – in fact I would argue the repeat offences issue on bail is probably what the community is calling for most – are not in this Bill says everything about this Government. How can it not have been included in the Bill? When will it be? It will not be fixed. It will not be fixed. So, I would say to Victorians, when we consider what is being debated in this Chamber this week we are not considering a tough Bail Bill, we are considering a fake Bail Bill that misses some of the points and fixes needed. Of course, we need to make sure that we improve bail, and of course we will support whatever toughening we can support – of course we will. But when it comes to repeat offenders, how has the government just left the jail door open, let the bail door open? That is what this Government is doing. Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will cease interjecting across the Chamber.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On a point of order, Speaker, the Member for Brighton is anticipating debate. I ask that you ask him to come back to the Government Business Program.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton to continue on the Government Business Program.

James NEWBURY: This is a farce, and Victorians will see it.