Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:08): My question today is also to the Treasurer. Treasurer, in the funding model proposed by our state’s core integrity agencies the Victorian Ombudsman, IBAC and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office a core tenet is increased transparency so that the agencies’ budget bids are public, that the funding they receive is then made public and that there is a public explanation for any difference between what they have requested and what they then receive. Treasurer, why isn’t this currently the case?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:08): Sorry, Mr Puglielli, I only caught half of your question there, but it was similar to that of Mr Davis. You are asking for reforms that have been reflected in some of the correspondence that I have received from the integrity agencies, so my answer is effectively the same as what I gave to Mr Davis.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:09): Treasurer, yesterday the Victorian Ombudsman revealed that her agency received 39 per cent of the funding given to her New South Wales counterpart. She has half the number of complaint officers compared to New South Wales, and every year she conducts fewer investigations triggered by complaints from the public, due to diminishing resources. Why is Victoria lagging behind New South Wales in these measures?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:09): I take issue again with the mischaracterisation of funding for our integrity agencies. To describe it as diminishing resources is just inaccurate, Mr Puglielli. In relation to the question that you have asked, IBAC, Integrity Oversight Victoria and the Victorian Ombudsman have all received funding uplifts in recent years. Again, I gave this information to Mr Davis. The Victorian Ombudsman has nearly doubled in funding since 2014.

In terms of the funding arrangements, they are discussed in detail at PAEC and in the Integrity and Oversight Committee, as are some of the issues about the pressures on the organisations. One of the pressures that the organisations raise is referrals from this house. I know that we have got some considerations around funding, duplicate referrals and things like that tomorrow in general business.