Justice portfolio consultancy expenditure
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:28): (371) My question is to the Attorney-General. Minister, according to the 2015–16 PAEC outcomes questionnaire the Department of Justice and Regulation spent $55 million in 2014–15 on consultants, contractors and labour hire, yet the 2023–24 budget estimates questionnaire shows that the now disaggregated court services, Victoria Police and Justice and Community Safety expenditure for only part of 2022–23 on consultants, contractors and labour hire was $147 million, an increase under the Andrews Labor government and Allan Labor government – but I think we will stick with Andrews Labor government on this – since 2014–15 of $92 million, or 168 per cent. What will the minister do to stop this runaway gravy train of consultancy spending in her portfolio?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:29): Mr Davis, aggregating figures and referring to 10 years ago and the like is one way of asking a question, but in relation to the consultancy use of the department of justice, it is something that I have been working on with the department and the secretary in relation to ensuring that we are reducing as much as possible any reliance on consultancy and outsourcing. I can assure you that in this year I was very satisfied with the level of reduction of reliance on consultancy fees.
There was a lot of need to outsource and seek expert advice during the pandemic, but following those years we are certainly in a position that I am comfortable is demonstrating that we are certainly reducing anything unnecessary or indeed, beyond that, ensuring that it is a last resort where we need that expertise. Sometimes you do, so you cannot bring about an all-out ban in relation to seeking outsourced advice, particularly in delicate areas that many of us have to deal with in our portfolios.
I will provide you with the latest figures, which demonstrate a reduction that I as minister can confirm I was satisfied with – with the direction that was tracking. I am happy to provide you with those figures and see if they satisfy you.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:30): I thank the minister for her constructive engagement on that. I note that your then colleague the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events said in June, in response to press coverage of the more than $24 billion spent by the government on consultants, contractors and labour hire, that the government would cut spending by $50 million on an ongoing basis, representing a cut of just 1 per cent. Can you please confirm that it is government policy to only reduce its runaway expenditure on consultants, contractors and labour hire by 1 per cent? That amounts to $1.5 million in your department of justice, so I am hoping it is much more than that – community safety, court services and VicPol.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:31): In relation to the decrease in consultancy spending by the Department of Justice and Community Safety this year, it is $6.58 million. In relation to Court Services Victoria, I will have to take a closer look at that. As you would appreciate, they are somewhat at arm’s length from me. But $6.58 million is a little bit more than you were hoping, it sounds.