Thursday, 13 August 2026

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:00): (1413) My question is to the Minister for Government Services, Mr Erdogan. According to the Victorian Government Purchasing Board, the principles that underpin the procurement policy in Victoria are value for money, accountability, probity and scalability. How does Rail Projects Victoria spending almost $1.6 million hiring and maintaining pot plants for its offices represent value for money?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:01): I thank Mr Mulholland for his question in relation to this matter. As minister, I can say I expect every taxpayer dollar to be spent responsibly, transparently and with a clear focus on value for money with taxpayer dollars. I was clear from the first day I got into the office that that was the message. The message was that my focus will be on disciplined fiscal management and on delivering value for taxpayers. In relation to the government’s position on this matter, I think the Premier – in a view that I agree with – has been clear. This spending was not a good use of taxpayer money, and he has asked for it to end. As the Minister for Government Services, let me be clear also that we do set the frameworks for government procurement and making sure we get value, but individual departments and agencies make those judgement calls. In relation to this call, they have clearly got it wrong. The Premier has outlined that, and I support Premier Carroll’s position.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:02): Minister, as you have stated in your answer and as has been confirmed by the Premier, this is not a good use of taxpayer money, and it has ended. The Premier confirmed following question time yesterday that he asked his department to end this. Minister, can you confirm that there is nothing to end and the $1.6 million has actually already been spent?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:02): I thank Mr Mulholland for his supplementary question. As I stated in my substantive, as the Minister for Government Services we do set a procurement framework about extracting the best value for taxpayer dollars. In relation to the specifics of that incident, I think the Premier has addressed that. He has made clear the government’s position. I am not going to get into the workings of the rail projects body, an agency. Nonetheless I believe that figure is incorrect. But what I will say is we have been clear. I have made it clear to my department that the expectations in relation to spending such as this are that it should not be occurring.

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, on relevance, my question went to whether that amount has been spent.

The PRESIDENT: I did think the minister did refer to the figure mentioned.

Enver ERDOGAN: As I was saying, as you would appreciate, individual expenditure items are decisions for those departments and agencies. We set the framework, but they make the decisions. But clearly, in relation to this decision the Premier has been clear: the spending was not a good use of taxpayer money.