Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. When did I become aware of this? I suppose if we go back in history, we will see that there was a note in the pre-election budget update that said that there had been a letter provided to the east–west consortium — a letter.

Honourable members interjecting.

Mr PALLAS— My level of awareness at that stage was that I was slightly disconcerted about what this all meant. But after the election the member for Malvern did something that he refused to do all the time he was in government: he produced the letter of comfort.

Honourable members interjecting.

Mr Guy — On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, the question was very straightforward. It was focused very clearly on the matter raised in the Treasury Corporation annual report yesterday and when the Treasurer first became aware of those additional costs — a simple question. I ask you to bring him back to that question.

Mr Pakula — On the point of order, Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Treasurer about when he became aware of certain liabilities. The Treasurer is chronologically taking the house through his awareness of liabilities, beginning from the time that he became aware of the member for Malvern’s disgraceful side letter.

Honourable members interjecting.

Mr R. Smith — On the point of order, Speaker, the Attorney-General can attempt to recast the question if he wishes, but the question was about specific liabilities, not various liabilities.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Chair does not uphold the point of order at this point. I ask the Treasurer to continue and to respond to the question as advanced by the opposition.

MR PALLAS — My state of awareness is growing at the level of injustice and of the feckless indifference those opposite imposed upon the Victorian people. Then we finally got to see this gross injustice to the Victorian people. What does it say? It says:

If, at any time, a provision of this deed poll is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable — —

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! As the Chair has indicated repeatedly, the Chair, the public and indeed the media must be able to hear the responses advanced by the Treasurer. The Treasurer, to continue in silence.

Mr PALLAS — If only they had had their voices in cabinet when this was being discussed. It continues that if it becomes:

… unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, that will not affect or impair the legality, validity or enforceability of —

these arrangements. What a gross injustice! When did I become aware of this?

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! Requests made by the Chair for silence apply to government and opposition members.

Ms Ward interjected.

The SPEAKER — Order! The member for Eltham is warned.

Mr R. Smith — On a point of order, Speaker, just to clarify: is that the side letter that the Treasurer told Neil Mitchell he did not even know about close to the election? Is that the same side letter that he lied to the public again today about?

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! The member will resume his seat. There is no point of order. The member for Warrandyte should be fully aware by now that that is not a way of putting a point of order to the house.

Mr PALLAS — At that point my understanding was crystal clear. I knew then the absolute level of treachery against the Victorian people. Like a drowning man grasping at straws, members of the former government grabbed hold of Victorian taxpayers and their interests and said, ‘I’m not going down without you’. That is exactly what they did to Victorians and their interests. At what point did good governance or their ministerial responsibilities impact on their thinking? Quite frankly, those opposite should hang their heads in shame for the crass indifference in the way they treated their responsibilities.

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Chair can understand the excitement. We have had a two-week break, and we have a wonderful international delegation with us. I promised the international delegation that we would perform well today, but I am not sure that this is the performance the Chair was expecting.