Victoria’s independent Parliamentary Budget Office has counted more than $17.2 billion worth of Andrews government programs that could be cut in Tuesday’s state budget.
The PBO analysed budgets and updates released since 2019-20, at the request of Opposition Leader John Pesutto, to calculate what funding was due to lapse at the end of this financial year.
Further initiatives that could face the axe on Tuesday include: $5 million to support timber workers, $7.5 million to the Latrobe Valley Authority for regional economic transition, $2.7 million for VICSES volunteer training, $2.3 million towards public libraries, $4.5 million to prevent youth crime through early intervention, and $5.7 million to improve health access for refugees and asylum seekers.
They were largely COVID-19-related initiatives to support business and one-off boosts to the health system. EmergencyThe analysis assumed that initiatives announced in the 2019-20 budget and budget update that were funded to 2022-23 are more likely to have ongoing support compared to those announced since then with a final funding year of 2022-23, which “may have a time-limited purpose and are less likely to have ongoing funding”.
“Victoria needs an end to the culture of debt, waste and incompetence; that have become hallmarks of this Government.”
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