Thursday, 20 February 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Economic policy

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Before the 2022 budget, the government promised budget repair but on budget day delivered $168 billion in debt. In 2023 they promised a difficult budget but increased debt to $171 billion, and last year they pledged a slash-and-burn horror budget, yet debt ballooned to $188 billion. Yesterday the Premier stated it was a little early in the season to be going through this performative act on the budget. Can the Premier confirm that this morning’s announcement of another review is nothing more than a performative stunt before Labor delivers another debt-riddled budget?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I ask members to come to order before I call the Premier to respond. Leader of the House, this could be your day.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): I think we have seen exhibit A in the performative stunts for today from the member for Brighton. If we looked up the definition of ‘performative stunt’, we would see the member for Brighton. But in all seriousness, my government is focused on ensuring that every dollar that is invested in Victorian public services goes to the priorities of Victorian families. Like every household is watching every dollar, we know that we have to do that work as well, and that is why we are undertaking a review, which the Treasurer and I announced today, a review that will not touch frontline services like teachers, nurses, police and child protection officers. Liberals cut those services. We know that. But we know –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, attacks on the opposition are inappropriate.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Manager of Opposition Business knows that it is entirely appropriate for the Premier, on her feet, to compare the actions of this government with those of the Liberal Party when they were in power.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. I ask the Premier to be mindful of not attacking the opposition.

Jacinta ALLAN: This review is going to zero in on waste and inefficiency and in turn ensure that we can continue to invest in those services that we on this side of the house know that working people and their families rely on – good schools, local hospitals, safer communities – and continue to support those frontline services.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is required to be factual, and on the sentence and answer the Premier just went to, the Premier’s review exempts all capital works.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer, I believe.

Jacinta Allan: Was that a supplementary or a point of order?

The SPEAKER: That was a point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:06): Public sector wages have doubled under this government from $18 billion to $36 billion. The Parliamentary Budget Office has released analysis today that details an additional $3.6 billion blowout on top of the original budgeted costs. How can the Premier claim she is focused on making sure every dollar of investment goes where it matters, when she has provided over $3.6 billion of blowouts in public sector wages?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Polwarth, do you want to answer the question? It was not directed to you.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Polwarth, are you reflecting on the Chair?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): In responding to the member for Brighton’s question, I have not seen the Parliamentary Budget Office report that he is referring to. Given previous requests from the Liberal Party to the Parliamentary Budget Office, it makes it very difficult to take anything at face value that the member for Brighton says. So if the member for Brighton would be pleased to provide the details, I would be delighted to take them, because I have not had the opportunity to see the Parliamentary Budget Office report that he is referring to.

The SPEAKER: Did you wish to table a document?

James Newbury: The Premier asked for it, and I tried to hand it to her. It is the final page, Premier.

Jacinta ALLAN: Let us go back to the purpose as to why the Treasurer and I made the announcement we did this morning about a review to ensure that every dollar is focused on supporting those services that Victorian communities rely on: good schools, local hospitals and safer communities. We will continue also as part of this work to understand our role to help families at a particularly challenging time with the cost of living.