Today's budget seals Jacinta Allan and Labor's legacy as the most fiscally reckless government in Victoria's history.
This is a budget of higher debt, higher taxes, higher interest repayments, blowouts and delays and lacks any plan to grow our economy or provide meaningful support to Victorians. It is full of excuses and no solutions.
The budget contradicts Premier Allan's claims of a 'surplus', by confirming a cash deficit of $7.7 billion. The budget has also confirmed that since 2014:
Despite this near tenfold increase in net debt - outcomes for Victorians and the essential services they rely on remain poorer than ever.
Under Labor, criminal offending is at an all-time high, it takes longer to get an ambulance today than it did 10 years ago, construction of new homes is at a decade low, roads are littered with potholes and at least $15 billion has been lost to corruption on major projects.
In coming years, interest repayments will reach $1.35 million an hour and Victoria will spend more money servicing its record debt than it does on Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and all kindergarten services combined.
Victoria cannot continue on this path. Our state needs a fresh start and a new approach to managing the books, one that is honest, transparent and clear about the challenges ahead.
Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson, said: "This budget fails the basic test. It spends big, plans little, and leaves the next generation to pick up the bill.
"You can't run a household like this, and you certainly can't run a state. The enormous and growing interest bill is making life harder for every Victorian - we cannot continue on this path.
"Victoria needs a new approach to managing the books - one that is honest about the challenges we face and clear about how we will turn things around together.
"Only my Liberal and Nationals team will deliver a responsible long-term economic plan that will stop the waste and chart a clear path to lower debt, lower taxes and to a better future."
Leader of The Nationals, Danny O'Brien, said: "The Allan Labor Government's cuts to regional development and agriculture show that Labor continues to ignore the needs of regional Victorians."
"At the same time, Victorians are hit with a $6.87 billion bill for the emergency services tax - double what they used to pay under the Fire Services Property Levy.
"This is a bad Labor government which should tell the truth: every unfunded promise today is a tax hike or a service cut tomorrow.
"The only way regional Victorians can get their fair share is with The Nationals and Liberals elected to government this November."
