The secrecy surrounding Victoria's finances continues to worsen as the Allan Labor Government fails to release more than 130 government agency annual reports.
Under the Financial Management Act, the Victorian Government is required to table annual reports within four months of the end of a given financial year.
Despite this legislative requirement, Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson has today confirmed 131 annual reports, including dozens of reports from Victoria's health services and emergency service agencies, will not be made publicly available and has provided no meaningful explanation as to why – or when they will be tabled in State Parliament.
Furthermore, reports that have been released confirm multiple Victorian government agencies have suffered operating losses across 2023-24, including;
- Victorian Managed Insurance Authority -$98.668 million
- Suburban Rail Loop Authority -$2.981 million
- Workplace Injury Commission -$1.33 million
- Victoria Police -$4.584 million
- Victorian Electoral Commission -$2.695 million
- Essential Services Commission -$1.4 million
- Shrine of Remembrance Trustees -$4.3 million
These reports follow confirmation Victoria's net debt per person is set to exceed $25,000 by 2027-28 – the highest level in the nation – whilst interest repayments will reach almost $26 million a day, or more than $1 million an hour.
Shadow Minister for Finance, Jess Wilson, said: "Labor's failure to release more than 130 annual reports as required by the Parliament is simply unacceptable.
"With so many government agencies sinking further into debt and services continuing to deteriorate under Labor, Victorians deserve to know the exact financial position of their frontline health, emergency service, justice and environment authorities.
"Mismanaged agencies mean poorer frontline services and higher out of pocket costs for Victorians through registration, insurance and other fees and charges.
"Labor cannot manage money, and Victorians are paying the price."
