Petition Release information on the public lottery licence extension

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that the Victorian Government granted a 40-year extension of the Victorian public lottery licence without conducting an open competitive tender. During Parliamentary Question Time on 5 May 2026, concerns were raised about whether the State achieved the best value for taxpayers and why the licence was extended well before its expiry. Although the Government stated that appropriate probity processes were followed, it has not publicly released the independent valuation reports, financial modelling, procurement advice or ministerial briefings supporting the decision. Given the significant public value of the licence and its long-term financial implications, greater transparency and independent scrutiny are necessary to maintain public confidence in government decision-making and demonstrate that the transaction represented value for money.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to publicly release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the independent valuation reports, probity adviser reports, procurement advice, ministerial briefing notes and financial modelling supporting the public lottery licence extension, and to commission an independent review of whether the extension represented value for money and reflected best practice public procurement, with the findings to be tabled in Parliament.