Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:43): My question is to the Treasurer. Victoria’s debt is forecast to hit $192.6 billion, Treasurer. Cost overruns on the government’s major projects have exceeded $40 billion. Police stations are operating on reduced hours. Major hospital redevelopments face continued delays. Our state is a financial basket case. Yet yesterday in question time, in answer to a question about the billions that have gone to organised crime on your government’s watch, like the Premier, you deflected and denied. You repeatedly said that lost money was because of labour shortages and the cost of raw materials and threw shade at esteemed integrity expert Geoffrey Watson’s work. Why won’t you accept the truth about the flow of taxpayer funds to organised crime?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:44): I thank Ms Crozier for her question and the opportunity to revisit the answers that I gave yesterday. Ms Crozier, yesterday I was asked about a $15 billion figure. That is a figure – there is no evidence to support the claim in which it has been made. What I wanted to point out was the escalation in costs in the construction industry is well known. It is around wages and conditions predominantly driven by labour shortages, and that is not unique to Victoria, also the cost of raw materials following the pandemic period. Again, because you scoffed at my description of these cost drivers, I did point out some economists and their view of these things.

Saul Eslake said the engineering construction implicit price deflator, a measure of price growth indexed by the ABS, shows costs in Victoria went up 36.8 per cent between December 2014 and December 2025. What I did not go on to say is that he has also pointed out that this is lower than New South Wales, at 37.4 per cent, and the national figure, at 41.7 per cent.

Ms Crozier, to the issues that I went to yesterday. The cost drivers in the construction industry I have set out. In relation to any criminal conduct that has resulted in any funds being extorted or being subject to bribery, they are matters that are being investigated by Victoria Police. We should leave them to do that business. Around 60 charges have been laid and around 15 individuals have been arrested. It is important work. I stand by that work. We want to make sure that Victoria Police are well resourced to ensure that they can conduct that important work. Again, given some of the commentary here, if anybody in here or outside knows of any criminal activity or allegations, there is the opportunity to report that and bring it to the attention of the authorities – you can do it anonymously if you like – because these are important issues. But also what is important is ensuring the safety of workplaces, having appropriate wages and conditions and ensuring that we are delivering the infrastructure needs that Victoria relies on.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:46): Treasurer, an extraordinary denial again – I mean, Mr Watson is one of the nation’s leading corruption experts, and your government continues to dismiss him. Your answers in question time yesterday showed a complete abrogation of your responsibilities as Treasurer of this state. This is taxpayers money, not the personal piggy bank of the Victorian Labor Party. Yesterday you refused to accept the $15 billion figure, and you have done so today again. You refuse to take on board the corruption experts. So what work are you undertaking to uncover the true cost of Victoria’s Big Build corruption, and when will you make this public?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:47): Ms Crozier, I have addressed these questions. I have explained to you some of the issues in relation to the cost drivers in the construction industry, and I have outlined the percentage increases that economists have brought to the public domain in relation to this. In relation to any founded corruption –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the minister did respond to my substantive around the cost overruns. We have already gone through that argument. This was a very specific question around the corruption costs, and I would ask you to draw the minister back to that.

The PRESIDENT: The minister to continue her answer.

Jaclyn SYMES: Ms Crozier, I was bringing to the house’s attention the views of the independent administrator.

A member interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: The author of the report has also concluded that the estimates are rough and crude. We will go by the administrator and the experts that I have quoted today.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:48): Extraordinary. I move:

That the minister’s response be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Jaclyn Symes: On a point of order, President, like yesterday, Ms Crozier has called me corrupt. I deny that, and I would like it to be withdrawn.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Ms Crozier, could you please withdraw?

Georgie Crozier: President, again, for you, I withdraw.