Public sector review
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:26): My further question to the Treasurer is this: Minister, the budget was released in May this year and two months ago you received the Helen Silver review. Yet I ask, why have you not released the report now?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:26): Mr Davis, I have been very up-front about the intention to make the report that Helen Silver has provided to me public alongside the government response. I have been very consistent, and I remain so.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:27): Treasurer, independent economist Saul Eslake has said:
The fact that the Silver report has not yet been made public is a problem …
If the treasurer has gone to the ratings agencies and said, trust me this is our plan, but they haven’t released it publicly and what she does falls short of what she told the ratings agencies, that will harm Victoria’s case …
to maintain its credit rating. I ask therefore: Treasurer, given the obvious risks to the state, is it not time you bite the hard policy bullet and release the secret Silver report?
Members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT: Order! There is too much noise for me to be able to call the Treasurer.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:27): Mr Davis, I did enjoy that. It is a great question – you had a lot of passion in that question. The report will be public. I have said it will be public. I am working through the recommendations. I have had meetings with my ministerial colleagues in relation to impacts on their portfolios. I would like to have a very comprehensive response so that in relation to when we release the report it is very clear what actions the government will be taking. I am not going to give you a date. I am working through it. I commit to making it public. Yes, it will be this year.