Body for 'frank, evidence-based' advice to Victorian government ditched
Independent advice to help the Victorian government prioritise spending on infrastructure will be axed under the latest pivot from Premier Ben Carroll.
Finance Minister Enver Erdogan announced that Infrastructure Victoria and Economic Growth Victoria will be wound up by the Victorian government, resulting in the loss of up to 50 jobs and a saving of $12 million over the next four years. The agencies, established by former Premier Daniel Andrews in 2015, provided independent advice to the government on infrastructure spending.
The closure will require legislation through the parliament and could take several months to complete. The agencies' independence, which allowed them to provide frank and evidence-based advice, will be lost under Premier Ben Carroll's new administration. Opposition spokesman Matthew Guy criticized the decision, stating that it shows the government's infrastructure agenda is based on votes rather than facts.
Labor and Greens parties have also expressed their disagreement with the decision, emphasizing the importance of retaining independent scrutiny and advice for infrastructure projects.
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