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 Infrastructure Victoria and Economic Growth Victoria would both be wound up, slashing up to 50 jobs and saving $12 million over the coming four years.
Staff were informed of the decision this morning.
Former senior bureaucrat Helen Silver’s independent review into the public service had recommended closing the agencies, but the suggestion was rejected under former premier Jacinta Allan.
Coalition pledges to keep Infrastructure Victoria
Winding up Infrastructure Victoria will require legislation through the parliament and Mr Erdogan confirmed it would take months to close the agency.
Opposition transport spokesman Matthew Guy said the Coalition would keep Infrastructure Victoria if elected in November. He said the Suburban Rail Loop showed now was not the time to cut back independent advice.
“It was designed to give frank and fearless infrastructure advice — in their words, to take the politics out of infrastructure,” Mr Guy said.
“Now they’re abolishing it. What’s that tell us about their infrastructure agenda? Probably that it’s based on votes, not based on facts.”
Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Jiselle Hanna agreed the agency did important work.
“In a time of increased scrutiny on infrastructure projects, we need to retain independent authorities that are capable of providing frank and fearless advice, not abolish them,” she said.
