Halving spend on consultancies would save $1.5 billion over the next ten years

With reports overnight that the Victorian Labor Government’s spending on consultancies has rocketed 200 per cent since Daniel Andrews was first elected, the Victorian Greens have called on the Government to slash spending on consultancies to re-invest in the public service in the upcoming State Budget.

A Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) costing obtained by the Greens has found halving expenditure on private consultants would save the state $1.5 billion dollars over the next ten years.

Victorian Greens economic justice spokesperson, Sam Hibbins, said the $1.5 billion dollars should be redirected to ensure the public service can help people in need. 

He added that Victoria couldn't afford an ‘austerity’ budget in May that reduced funding and cut public sector jobs, given so many people were struggling with the skyrocketing cost-of-living. 

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens economic justice spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP:

“The Government has a clear choice in this budget: either slash spending on private consultants to re-invest in the public service, or push people even further to the margins with an austerity budget.

“With more and more Victorians being pushed to the margins, the Government must put people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis before corporate profits.”