Victorian Labor government to spend $81 million on economic and policy advice
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury discusses the prediction of the Victorian Labor government to spend $81 million in the current budget on economic and policy advice.
'The government is hiring an executive on $220,000 a day,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price.
'For $81 million, I don't think we're getting very good advice because the government doesn't seem to be getting any better.
'What's this $81 million going towards?'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sky News AU
19 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Trade Minister Don Farrell confident in negotiations to finalise European Union free trade deal
Trade Minister Don Farrell has confirmed momentum is building for a free trade agreement with the European Union, more than 18 months after negotiations collapsed, with sticking points like beef exports and luxury car taxes still on the table. The Albanese government has expressed confidence it will strike a long-awaited free trade agreement with the European Union. Trade Minister Don Farrell told Sky News Sunday Agenda there was 'a lot of goodwill in the air' following revived negotiations with the EU. Mr Farrell met with European counterparts on Wednesday, the first face-to-face talks since free trade negotiations collapsed in October 2023. He acknowledged several sticking points remain unresolved, including Australia's luxury car tax and EU demands for exclusive naming rights for prosciutto and parmesan 'We haven't yet got an agreement, but there was a lot of goodwill in the air in Paris last week,' Mr Farrell said. 'I'm confident that if that goodwill continues, that we can secure a new free trade agreement with the European Union.' The comments follow Mr Farrell's meeting with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on the sidelines of an OECD summit in Paris. A visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Australia is also expected in July or August. Mr Farrell said both sides now recognise the urgency of finalising an agreement in a 'rapidly changing global environment', amid US President Donald Trump's tariffs. 'Those countries that believe in free and fair trade have to work together,' Mr Farrell said. 'I'm very confident that with a little bit of time, a little bit of hard work on our part… we can get there and we can strike an agreement.' — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025 Australian officials have said that agriculture remains the biggest sticking point, which was a major cause of the failed negotiations in 2023. The government has signalled a willingness to consider abolishing the luxury car tax—an irritant to EU exporters—in exchange for greater access to lamb and beef markets. The issue of geographical indications—terms like feta, prosecco, parmesan, and prosciutto—also continues to be a flashpoint. Some European nations want to reserve these product names for EU-based producers only, a move resisted by Australian farmers and manufacturers. The EU is Australia's third-largest trading partner, representing a market of 450 million people and a GDP of about AUD$20 trillion. Mr Farrell said a trade agreement would unlock benefits across investment, education, supply chains and export growth. 'We've got lots of things that we can sell to the Europeans. I believe now that there's an appetite to reach an agreement on both sides,' he said. The renewed push comes amid heightened global uncertainty, with US President Donald Trump announcing plans to double steel tariffs to 50 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Trump will likely meet for the first time in Kananaskis, Canada, between June 15 and 17.

Sky News AU
29 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Inherent tension' between Donald Trump and Elon Musk ‘all the way along'
Sky News host Rowan Dean discusses the 'inherent tension' which has been apparent between Donald Trump and Elon Musk 'all the way along'. United States President Donald Trump has taken another swipe at his once-ally Elon Musk and is reportedly considering selling his Tesla after the billionaire's public spat. 'Let's not forget that Elon Musk is the man behind Tesla, the man behind the EVs ... the whole climate change push and the future of electric cars,' Mr Dean said. 'There was always the tension with Trump; they got together, they worked together for the election, but it had to blow up at some point.'

ABC News
37 minutes ago
- ABC News
Thornlie-Cockburn link opens as part of 'unprecedented' investment in Metronet project
More than 18 months of disruption is coming to an end for some commuters as Perth's first east-west rail connection opens this week to service communities from Mandurah to Armadale. The Thornlie-Cockburn link and adjacent rail elevation are part of WA Labor's flagship infrastructure project Metronet. The developments, in Perth's south east, feature a $1.3 billion rail extension with two new stations connecting Thornlie to Cockburn Central, and a $1.6 billion elevation of five stations and rail from Carlisle to Beckenham. The elevation is hoped to address road congestion — with the state government previously saying boom gates were down for up to six hours a day at some level crossings — and open up public spaces around and under the rail line. Transport minister Rita Saffioti said despite cost and time blowouts, the level of infrastructure delivered through the Metronet project was "unprecedented". "Generational infrastructure is hard," Ms Saffioti said. "These projects are really for the public. They're about the future and they're about making transport even more affordable and accessible." The projects were jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Construction of the latest Metronet development did not come without disruption. The Armadale line was shut down for 18 months for construction, and that disruption was set to continue for thousands of commuters due to a delay on the opening of the elevated Armadale and Byford stations. Commuters relying on the Armadale line have been taking longer journeys on replacement bus services, while road closures have left some businesses isolated from their communities. Butcher Matt Budny said at one point, roads on either side of his shop in Carlisle were closed to facilitate the Metronet construction and another roadworks project. "We were close to closing up ... after they closed both sides," Mr Budny said. Mr Budny said the lack of access caused him to lose more than half of his usual business. "Especially if you've got family, who wants to do a 15 minute detour?" he said. "It was devastating [but] I know that things need to be done, the train line is a good thing." A deli on the other side of the Carlisle station also told the ABC it lost about 50 per cent of its usual business when road closures cut off access to their shop.