Friday, 28 August 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:44): (1460) My question is for the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. Minister, on Tuesday my colleague Ms Copsey asked how accepting free tickets and hospitality from Crown, Tabcorp and Endeavour Group was consistent with the ministerial code of conduct. One of the defences you provided was that this is necessary so-called stakeholder engagement. But the real stakeholders are those who have experienced gambling harm, and they cannot afford to provide expensive tickets and hospitality. As I understand it, you have met with the gambling harm Lived Experience Advisory Committee only once during your term as minister, in July last year, and despite personally committing to meet with them regularly and keep them updated on gambling reforms, you have done neither, but you have regularly met with gambling corporations and accepted free tickets and hospitality from them on numerous occasions. In reality they are buying continual access. Minister, why do gambling corporations repeatedly get your time while the Lived Experience Advisory Committee gets one meeting and broken promises?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:45): I reject the premise of the question. As minister I meet with a large range of stakeholders across my portfolios. As you would understand, as minister there are over 100 committees that report to me, and I regularly get briefed by my department on those as many of those committees are under the auspices of departments that regularly report up to the minister. It is not possible, but I wish I could attend every single committee that reports to me on a regular basis. That is my wish, but as we know, there is only limited time to be able to engage with stakeholders. I will always be accessible where possible.

Nick McGowan interjected.

Enver ERDOGAN: I will take that interjection, Mr McGowan. Wildlife Victoria was one that you raised, and I met with them. I will meet with stakeholders where I can. There is always more work to be done. I do get regularly briefed on their work, and I want to thank them for their work. Lived experience is a crucial part of policy formulation. Under the Carroll Labor government we will continue to engage and continue to make improvements. We will continue to have discussions with federal counterparts too, so I want to thank them for their engagement. I will continue to do that work.

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:46): I am not quite sure the minister answered that question. A further defence, Minister, that you provided on Tuesday regarding your acceptance of these gifts was that you had complied with your obligations by disclosing them. The code is explicit. Disclosure is one obligation under section 5.1.1 of the ministerial code. But separately from disclosure, section 5.1.4 says that a minister must not accept gifts or hospitality that could reasonably give rise to a conflict of interest or be perceived as an inducement or reward in the exercise of official functions. The Premier has said integrity is not optional, and under the code enforcement is a matter for the Premier. Minister, have you asked the Premier to determine whether your acceptance of these benefits complied with section 5.1.4 of the ministerial code, and if not, why not?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:47): I thank Dr Mansfield for her supplementary question. Dr Mansfield, I am not sure where this line of questioning is going. If you have an allegation to make, I would say make it by way of substantive motion. I think this is a line of questioning that is quite unfortunate and really unproductive, and quite hurtful to be frank. I am someone that takes my roles very seriously and acts with integrity and proper process. I always make the appropriate disclosures. I always act appropriately. I think the Premier has been asked and has answered in relation to this question. But in relation to my conduct, the ministerial code of conduct is clear. It expressly permits ministers to accept reasonable hospitality and customary official gifts because engagement with businesses, community organisations and stakeholders is a legitimate part of ministerial official responsibilities. Most of the events I attend are, to be honest, at local community groups, sporting clubs and faith communities in my electorate. I see some of these people and I see Mr Mulholland at some of those events. I see many of the members in this chamber at those events. That is where the majority of my time is spent. Stakeholder engagement with industry is an important part of that and one small component of the broader engagement I am committed to doing as a minister of the Crown.