Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:32): My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, when asked in PAEC last week why Treasurer’s advances totalling $3.86 billion, two of which were to health services specifically, one of $1.46 billion and the other $1.52 billion, were needed for the health budget in 2024–25, the department secretary responded that it was a ‘unique year’. Treasurer, why was it a unique year?

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Ms Crozier, do you mind asking the question again?

Georgie CROZIER: Treasurer, when asked in PAEC last week why Treasurer’s advances were needed for the health budget in 2024–25 totalling $3.86 billion, one of which totalled 1.46 billion and another $1.52 billion in the make-up of that $3.86 billion, the department secretary responded that it was a ‘unique year’.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Georgie CROZIER: The health department. Sorry, I said to support health services. Why was it a unique year?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:34): Ms Crozier, I am always happy to try and engage with you on questions within my portfolio, but you have literally just confirmed that your question is based off the PAEC evidence of the Department of Health. That would kind of give you an indication that the question would probably be better addressed –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, in the questionnaire from the Department of Health, ‘Treasurer’s advances and other budget supplementation’ – I have the documentation; I am perfectly happy to give it to you, Treasurer  – there are 15 Treasurer’s advances for which you are responsible totalling $3.68 billion.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Georgie Crozier: 2024–25 – I just said it in my substantive. You continue to deflect your responsibility about why these were required. I want to understand why the Department of Health is saying you signed off because it was a unique year. It is not unexpected or unforeseen expenditure, as you said to Mr Mulholland.

The PRESIDENT: As I said before, I respect the right of members to ask any question they want to direct to any minister, or for that matter the Treasurer, but I also respect the right of the Treasurer and other ministers to answer in the fashion the Treasurer is answering, insofar as she believes that responsibility falls within the remit of another minister.

Jaclyn SYMES: Again, the issue with this question is that it would be more appropriate for the Minister for Health, because the member –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the Treasurer has signed off on these Treasurer’s advances. She just said to my colleague that they were for unexpected and unforeseen expenditure.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Georgie Crozier: I will go through the list, if you like, Treasurer.

The PRESIDENT: No, there is no need to continue.

Georgie Crozier: President, I would ask you to ask the Treasurer to please respond to the Victorian taxpayer why this $3.68 billion was required.

Michael Galea: On the point of order, President, we know that last week opposition members struggled to ask questions of the right department. They are now asking questions of the wrong minister. The Department of Health is run by the Minister for Health, not by the Treasurer.

David Davis: On the point of order, President, questions have been asked about Treasurer’s advances which have been signed off by the Treasurer. The question relates to why the Treasurer signed those advances.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

David Davis: Specifically? It is entirely within reason for a Treasurer’s advance question to be asked of the Treasurer.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, I am going to call the Treasurer on the question. I think she was going to get somewhere before the points of order were raised, but it is not for me to know.

Jaclyn SYMES: The question as framed was literally asking me to provide a commentary on comments from the Secretary of the Department of Health. I took issue with the question. Ms Crozier, if you are actually saying that you do not agree with spending millions of dollars on Victoria’s health system –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the Treasurer has to approve these advances, so you either did or you did not. Why was it a unique year? Why was the department going to you to sign off on these 15 advances of $3.68 billion if it was a unique year?

The PRESIDENT: Ms Crozier, you cannot ask an extra question in a point of order. I put the question to the Treasurer, and she is answering insofar as her remit.

Jaclyn SYMES: As I was answering the question, Ms Crozier, you seemed to take issue with the millions of dollars that the government spends on –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: You were referring to millions and billions of dollars that you –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: Again, okay, let us not spend billions of dollars on the health system if you are the alternative government. Treasurer’s advances to respond to growth in health demand are perfectly appropriate. If you think patients do not deserve care, then that is a matter for you.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:39): Treasurer, that was the most extraordinary question –

Members interjecting.

Georgie CROZIER: Sorry – extraordinary answer to my question, I beg your pardon. You got me there. It was an extraordinary answer to my question; you did get me there. I just want to go through some of these lists where your Treasurer’s advances were signed off. It was to provide funding for continuing COVID-19-related legal matters, operating capital funding to meet the government’s election commitment on Smile Squad, exceptional funding for the Mental Health Tribunal, service delivery levels and performance in Victoria’s hospitals – Treasurer, $3.86 billion that you had to sign off on. Given your response to my question, and I will phrase it correctly this time: did you approve these advances or not, given your answer to my previous question?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:40): Ms Crozier, ‘depending on when the Treasurer’s advances were signed off’ would answer your question, probably – you can see when I became Treasurer. Literally, that is the answer to your question. You have got the list. Is that the PAEC questionnaire that you have in front –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: I was seeking further clarification from the member on their question about the document they were relying on. I assume it is the PAEC questionnaire. It would clearly indicate when the Treasurer’s advances were approved, and from that you can probably deduce whether I was Treasurer at the time or not.