The Allan government’s spending on external economic and policy advice is set to surge to more than $81 million this year, prompting claims Labor is wasting taxpayer’s money because it lacks the expertise to run Victoria’s finances.

The budget papers show $60.3 million was originally allocated for economic and policy advice last year, but the figure was quietly revised up by $14.9 million to $75.2 million in actual spending in last month’s state budget. The budget allocates $81.4 million for this spending in the coming financial year.