Questions without notice and ministers statements
Economic policy
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:08): President, I wish you well in your retirement. Congratulations on a great career.
My question is for the Treasurer. Treasurer, national figures compiled by the Centre for Public Integrity show your government has poured $39.9 billion over three years into Treasurer’s advances. In January 2025 it was revealed you sought advice from Treasury on limiting their use, yet in 2024–25 alone you spent $10.9 billion via this mechanism. Will you table the advice you received?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:08): I thank Mr Mulholland for his question. Mr Mulholland, we have had many conversations about Treasurer’s advances in this place. The advice that I received is evident in the actions of the changes that we made to the budget in May. What we did in the budget was break up Treasurer’s advances to make it very clear how that mechanism is used. One, it is for unexpected and unforeseen emergencies, such as responding to floods, fires or indeed making sure that we can match federal funding offers and the like and not miss out. What we did was break it up from milestone payments, which is the mechanism or the process where Treasury, DTF, hold onto buckets of money and allocate them to projects as they meet milestones. This is an accepted and appropriate way to expend the funds and keep an eye on things effectively. It is a good way to make sure that you can red-flag any issues, similar to some of the changes we made in the FMA. The advice is evident in the changes that we have made.
In relation to those milestones, it seems to be a continual question. What I might do is try and seek some further advice that really clarifies that the Treasurer’s advance mechanism for milestone payments is an appropriate mechanism and not in the ordinary sense a Treasurer’s advance, because that is where I think we keep getting stuck and why I keep getting asked about the amount of money going out as advances –
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES: Because we build stuff. When you see the Metro Tunnel – who has been on it? Have you had a ride?
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES: Some of the westies – when you get on the West Gate Tunnel you will see the evidence of the money that is expended to deliver progressive infrastructure that you will rely on tomorrow and generations will benefit from.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:10): Treasurer, the Treasurer’s advance mechanism is intended for genuinely urgent and unforeseen expenditure as defined in the DTF resource management framework. The $10.9 billion of appropriations last year, however, include $32 million for the delivery of the Australian Grand Prix, $30.68 million for boosting economic growth industry grants and $2.4 million for regional car parks. Which one of these was genuinely urgent and unforeseen?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:11): Mr Mulholland, I have explained the use of Treasurer’s advances, and as evidenced by your question, everything is reported. There is transparency and accountability because we list every Treasurer’s advance and what it is being spent on. Whether it is in the unforeseen column or whether it is in the milestone column, I will continue to try and make that as clear as possible, because there continues to be confusion on the use of the mechanism of the Treasurer’s advance and how it is characterised.