Thursday, 31 July 2025

Public sector review

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:24): (987) My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, I refer to the review being undertaken by Helen Silver, already much discussed in this chamber. Will you confirm that Daniel Andrews’s former director of policy Cameron Harrison has been employed by the review, opening the way to political interference by the former Premier?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:24): I thank Mr Davis for his question, as it has been well ventilated and a topic of conversation in this chamber and outside the chamber. I was very pleased to ask Helen Silver to undertake an independent review of the public sector. It is an independent review; who she engages is a matter for her.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:25): I note there is no denial of that position. I therefore ask: will the Treasurer confirm that Tim Pallas’s former deputy chief of staff is the senior manager on the staff of the Silver review?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:25): I thank – actually, I do not really thank you for the question. I do not really mean it. The answer I gave you to the substantive question stands. I have the utmost respect for Ms Silver; I believe we share that. In relation to employment of people that she has engaged, I am aware of a range of things. I did not have any views on who she chose, but she chose people based on their expertise, their experience and their ability to contribute to a really important review. As you know, I have received the review.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, the question is highly specific about an individual. The Treasurer could simply answer about that. She is well able to answer directly about whether that person has been employed or not.

The PRESIDENT: The minister answered at the start of her response in saying that it is an independent review and it is not for the Treasurer to be involved with who that particular independent reviewer decides to employ.

Jaclyn SYMES: I would only end with saying I respect the reviewer, I respect the decisions that she has made and I am not in a position to be able to answer your questions because I do not have a list of who she has employed.