Tuesday, 14 May 2024

Public Accounts and Estimates Committee

Appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer

Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (10:55): I rise to speak on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer report. I would like to thank the committee: the chair the member for Laverton; the deputy chair Nicholas McGowan, upper house member for North-Eastern Metropolitan; Michael Galea, upper house member for South-Eastern Metropolitan; the member for Box Hill; the member for Point Cook; the member for Yan Yean; Bev McArthur, upper house member for Western Victoria; the member for Gippsland South; the member for Melbourne; and the member for Clarinda. I would also like to extend my wholehearted appreciation to the committee secretariat for their unwavering dedication throughout the entirety of the recruitment process.

Victoria holds the distinction of being the first Australian state or territory to establish a continuous Parliamentary Budget Office. Established in 2017 and operational from April 2018, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has provided credible and impartial policy costings and advisory services to members of Parliament across different political groups in the Parliament. Before the Parliamentary Budget Officer was set up, only government members could get advice on policy costings and financial matters from the public sector. Now all parliamentarians can ask for help from the Parliamentary Budget Office. The fact that the Parliament Budget Office serves members of Parliament across different political groups highlights its nonpartisan nature, and having an impartial source of analysis is crucial for ensuring fair and objective policy analysis.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer has played a pivotal role in crafting policies and helping with public conversations across the state, particularly concerning significant matters such as large-scale infrastructure builds, debt management and different policy ideas. In addition, it is also responsible for preparing election policy costings, pre-election reports and post-election reports. Making policy costings and reports available ensures transparency in the electoral process. It allows voters as well as other stakeholders, such as journalists and NGOs, to scrutinise the proposals put forward by political parties and to hold them accountable for their promises. These reports help us to see how much money political promises and plans will cost and where the money will be coming from.

I would probably need more than 5 minutes if I was to talk about all of the vital work the Parliamentary Budget Officer does daily. It goes without saying that the Parliamentary Budget Officer is very important to our democracy and the way the Parliament of Victoria works. As such, the recruitment process needs to be of the most rigorous and robust standards, as that is what we owe to the Victorian voters. The Parliamentary Budget Officer serves a five-year term. At this time I would like to thank the inaugural Parliamentary Budget Officer Mr Anthony Close. In his role Mr Close has demonstrated integrity, professionalism and dedication. He has worked tirelessly to build the infrastructure and processes necessary for the efficient operation of the office of the parliamentary budget and has set high standards of excellence every step of the way. Throughout his leadership he has fostered a culture of impartiality, earning the trust and respect of stakeholders and parliamentarians across the political spectrum.

The successor to Mr Close must have the same high level of judgement, including the ability to operate in a nonpartisan fashion in what can be a complex political arena. They must also possess the ability to lead, develop and inspire the staff of the Parliamentary Budget Office to attain the strategic objectives of the organisation. During the election period May 2022 to January 2023 there were 24 full-time equivalent staff, so a high level of leadership is required.

The priorities outlined in the Parliamentary Budget Office 2023–24 operational plan include engaging with new and returning members of Parliament, providing policy costings, advising on fiscal and economic matters and building relationships across parliamentary committees. The allocated budget for 2023–24 is $3.4 million, and this money is well spent, ensuring voters can have adequate information and politicians can be held to account for their promises. What really impressed me in this report was the level that this committee went to in the recruitment process, because in a role like this a thorough candidate search is crucial for attracting top talent.

The committee agreed to the engagement of a recruitment consultant and the establishment of a selection panel to oversee and undertake the initial phases of the selection, the shortlisting process and participation in final selection recommendations. Thank you for the work of the panel members: Yves Giroux, Canadian Parliamentary Budget Officer; Bridget Noonan, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly; David Martine, Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance; and Jason Loos, deputy secretary and land coordinator general, Department of Premier and Cabinet. The selection panel was supported and advised by Jen D’Arcy-Smith of Watermark Search International and assisted by members of the committee secretariat. Watermark Search International and a recruitment consultant conducted research and talent mapping, uncovering nearly 130 candidates throughout Australia and New Zealand. After substantial work by all involved, on 18 August 2023 the committee sent a letter to the Treasurer, suggesting Xavier Rimmer be appointed. (Time expired)