Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Government contracts

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:09): (952) My question is again for the Treasurer. Treasurer, I refer to the VAGO report tabled today on contractors and consultants and note the auditor’s finding that:

… departments are not required to and do not consistently report to the public on how much they spend on contractors. This results in a lack of transparency about how they use public funds.

At recommendation 2 the AG recommended that the guidance note to financial reporting direction 22 be amended to ensure that the definitions of ‘contractor’ and ‘consultant’ are mutually exclusive and clear, to be consistent and comparable across the public sector. Will the Treasurer implement the recommendation of the Auditor-General in full?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:09): I thank Mr Davis for his question, and I thank VAGO for their work in relation to this important matter. In relation to the implementation of recommendations, it would not be just a matter for the Treasurer, Mr Davis. There are responsibilities of departments under the Financial Management Act and their various secretaries and the like, and I am sure that the recommendations from VAGO will be considered in great detail.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): These are wishy-washy responses, and I note the Treasurer’s half-baked answer there that she will not necessarily implement that recommendation in full. Recommendation 1 by the Auditor in today’s report sought amendment of a financial reporting direction:

… to report their spending on contractors in their annual reports would improve public transparency …

I therefore ask the Treasurer: will the government insist that agencies report spending on contractors, as outlined by the Auditor, in their annual reports?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:11): Mr Davis, I expect all government departments and agencies to comply with their responsibilities in relation to their annual reporting.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, that is not the answer. I asked the Treasurer: will the government insist that they report according to the Auditor’s approach in their annual reports. She has not answered that. She has just given a very vague –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister did answer the question.