Thursday, 31 July 2025

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:50): (1708) My question is to the Treasurer. I had a stand at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo recently, and many people raised concerns about funding cuts in regional areas, increased taxes and Victoria’s mounting state debt, which is fast approaching $194 billion, with nearly $29 million every single day in interest. Can the Treasurer please advise when the government will release the review undertaken by Helen Silver AO into the Victorian public service, which was recently provided to the government? The review looks to identify inefficiencies, with a focus on entity consolidation, and provides recommendations on how to reduce the Victorian public service back towards its prepandemic share of employment, including an examination of the appropriate level of executives. According to reports in the Australian Financial Review, significant job losses are expected and senior executives in the Victorian Public Sector Commission and other departments have started to consult employees about an organisational restructure. The government’s website states the Victorian government will publish the report alongside its response in the coming months. If you could please inform the house where and when and in considering the government’s response ensure that no further jobs are lost in Northern Victoria.