The Allan government in Victoria is facing mounting criticism over proposed changes to financial accountability rules, with the state opposition warning the reforms dangerously undermine transparency in government spending.
The changes come at a time when Victoria’s public debt is projected to reach a staggering $194 billion within just four years.
At the heart of the controversy is a plan to eliminate the longstanding requirement for a “warrant” to be issued before public money can be released from the state’s consolidated revenue fund. This requirement currently mandates approval from the Governor and Auditor-General—acting as a formal safeguard for government expenditure.
Finance Minister Danny Pearson defended the proposal in parliament, calling the warrant system a relic of the past. He said it originated in a time when public servants would physically collect cash from government vaults and that today’s modern banking and reporting systems render such mechanisms obsolete.
However, Shadow Treasurer James Newbury described the move as “disturbing,” warning that Labor was effectively seeking a “blank cheque” to spend public money without proper oversight. “There has never been a more important time in Victoria’s history to scrutinise government overspending,” he said.
The Victorian government insists the reforms are common-sense updates that bring the state into line with other Australian jurisdictions. A spokesperson dismissed the opposition’s claims as “complete rubbish,” arguing that the changes improve efficiency without weakening financial accountability.
