Victoria
Victorian government axes independent infrastructure advice body
Premier Ben Carroll has moved to scrap independent advice designed to help the Victorian government prioritise its infrastructure spending.
The Victorian government is set to scrap the independent advisory process used to prioritise its major infrastructure projects, marking a significant policy shift under Premier Ben Carroll.
According to reporting by wire services, the decision will see the end of independent, evidence-based counsel that has previously guided state cabinet decisions on multi-billion dollar public works. The move represents a major pivot in how the state plans and funds its future pipeline of projects.
Under the previous model, the government relied on arms-length recommendations to determine which transport, health, and education builds should receive funding priority. This structure was designed to ensure that taxpayer funds were directed to projects with the strongest economic and social business cases, free from direct political influence.
Details on the exact timeline for dismantling the advisory function remain thin. It is not yet confirmed which specific agency or council will be dissolved, or whether its staff will be absorbed into existing government departments. The state government has also not yet clarified how it plans to assess and rank infrastructure proposals moving forward without this independent framework, nor has it detailed any projected cost savings.
Historically, independent advisory bodies have provided a buffer against accusations of pork-barrelling in marginal electorates. Critics of similar moves have warned that removing independent oversight can lead to politicised spending decisions, though the Premier's office has yet to release its formal justification for this pivot. Premier Carroll's administration has faced ongoing pressure to manage the state's rising debt levels and high infrastructure delivery costs.
Observers will be watching closely to see how the local construction sector and financial markets react to the loss of independent planning oversight when the formal announcement is detailed.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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