Thursday, 27 August 2026

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:01): (1445) My question is to the Minister for Finance. The Victorian Auditor-General recently revealed that since January 2025 the Labor government has levied a 1 per cent tax on every public transport ticket – a tax that was never publicly disclosed and is projected to raise $8 billion by 2062 to help fund the Suburban Rail Loop East as an undisclosed part of its value capture taxes. Colin Brooks, the now Treasurer, has said that the government, and therefore his predecessor Ms Symes, should have been more transparent about these decisions. Given your position on the government’s budget and finance committee, why did your government make a deliberate choice to keep this tax secret?

 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 question and his interest in this matter. The Carroll Labor government is proud of our history of delivering infrastructure projects that our state needs – public transport upgrades and more trains, Mr Mulholland, on the Craigieburn line and Upfield line. But across the state there are more train services, thanks to the Carroll Labor government. The Premier has outlined the government’s position on this, and I want to thank the Auditor-General for the important work they do. I think it is an important announcement and report that they have produced. I welcome that. I think the Premier has been up-front about the process going forward. He has been very transparent, and his commitment is that integrity is not optional in our government.

In relation to the specifics, what I will say is you are asking me a question about before I was in fact involved in any of those discussions as a cabinet minister. Going forward, decisions such as these, the Premier has been clear, will be made by the cabinet as a whole.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:03): Minister, given your position on the government’s budget and finance committee, are you aware of any value capture components beyond land tax, windfall gains tax, infrastructure contributions plan levy, car parking levy, state-initiated development and Labor’s secret PT tax that are also funding the Suburban Rail Loop?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:03): I thank Mr Mulholland for his supplementary question. I think, as I outlined in my answer to the substantive, the Premier has been very clear: Victorians deserve to –

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, on relevance, that is not what the question went to. The question went to whether he was aware of any other taxes as part of the value capture mechanism.

The PRESIDENT: Give him a chance; it has only been 8 seconds.

Enver ERDOGAN: No.