Tim Pallas is flying to Europe for two weeks

Treasurer Tim Pallas has announced he is travelling to the UK, France, Spain and Italy in what will be his third overseas trip in 12 months.

Jetsetting Treasurer Tim Pallas is heading off on yet another overseas taxpayer-funded jaunt.

Just months after returning from a trip to the United States and Canada, Mr Pallas is off to the United Kingdom and Europe for an “intensive two-week trip … to promote Victoria’s economy”.

On this trip – his 13th since becoming Treasurer – he will visit the UK, France, Spain and Italy in a bid to advance trade and investment opportunities.

It’s the third international trip that Mr Pallas has taken since November last year, where he charged taxpayers almost $100,000 for his travels to China, France, the UK and the US.

While in the UK, Mr Pallas plans to spruik AUKUS-related supply chain opportunities and meet with investors to discuss opportunities in Victoria.

Treasurer Tim Pallas will visit the UK, France, Spain and Italy. Picture: Getty

In France, he will sign a co-operation agreement between Victoria and the Île-de-France region to strengthen the state’s relationship with the Paris area.

Mr Pallas will then meet with energy investors in Spain to highlight Victoria’s renewable energy targets, while in Italy he will open the third edition of the RMIT Future Europe Series – a partnership between the government and RMIT University.

Mr Pallas said attracting international investment and promoting trade is a key priority area for the government.

“We’ll continue to strengthen our relationship with major global trading partners like the UK and Europe because we know the huge benefits this generates for our state,” he said.

Mr Pallas said the trip was a way to advance trade and investment opportunities. Picture: Getty

His latest trip comes just over a week after Premier Jacinta Allan returned from a four-day trade tour to India.

Earlier this year, the Herald Sun revealed Mr Pallas’ November trip last year cost taxpayers $96,366 – including $51,000 on flights for him and his chief of staff James Wilson.

The duo also spent $20,965 on accommodation and $23,815 on other expenses as part of the 18-day junket.

In July this year, he spent two weeks in the United States and Canada to meet with key investors and government counterparts including major pension funds and ratings agencies.

In 2022 taxpayers were left with a $67,000 bill after Mr Pallas spent three-weeks in Germany, France, England and the US.

This latest overseas trip comes just days after the government announced a nearly $1bn blowout on the Metro Tunnel, and despite Victoria’s debt hurtling towards an eye-watering $187.8bn by 2027-28.

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell said the government needed to prove that the trips would benefit Victorian taxpayers.

“In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and with the state’s finances deteriorating by the day, Labor must demonstrate how these repeated overseas trips represent value for taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“Given more than 150,000 businesses closed their doors in Victoria in the last 12 months, any initiative to increase investment in our state is better than none.

“The best way to increase investment and attract more businesses to Victoria is for the Allan Labor Government to cut taxes.”

Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday defended Mr Pallas’ third overseas trip in less than a year.

“From time to time myself and ministers travel overseas because we know it brings trade, investment and job opportunities back to Victoria,” she said.

Originally published as Tim Pallas is flying to Europe for two weeks