Bailed out: Victoria dubbed a parasite state as imports trump exports by $51 billion a year

VICTORIA has been dubbed a “parasite” state for relying on the rest of Australia to fund its extravagant lifestyle.

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VICTORIA has been dubbed a “parasite” state for relying on the rest of Australia to fund its extravagant lifestyle.

Last year, Victoria imported more than $50 billion of highly manufactured goods, including cars, TV sets and machinery, official trade figures show.

But despite promises in the early 2000s of the state having a big future in hi-tech industries — especially by state Labor leaders Steve Bracks and John Brumby — Victoria exported only $7.2 billion of such goods in 2015-16.

Overall, the state imported $51 billion extra in goods and services than it exported last year, while Western Australia posted a $62 billion trade surplus and Queensland had a $12 billion surplus.

Victoria’s top goods export was wool and animal hair, ­followed by cars, meat, dairy products and fruit and nuts.

In a devastating analysis of Victoria’s manufacturing sector, Dr Bob Birrell, head of The Australian Population Research Institute, said other states were bailing Victoria out.

“Victoria is a parasite state — we are relying on the rest of Australia to provide for our ­import-intensive lifestyle,” he said.

Dr Birrell said Melbourne’s growth was driving this dependence, with the Andrews Government enjoying a jobs boom.

“However, the boom is being driven by employment growth in the health, social assistance and education industries that are largely financed by the federal and state governments,” he said. “And a boom in the finance and property industries fuelled by a massive increase in mortgage investment debt. It’s a mirage.”

But a state government spokesman said Dr Birrell’s analysis focused solely on one part of the economy.

“Victoria’s economy is strong and we are the jobs engine room of the country with more than 247,000 new jobs created since 2014, including more than 40,000 in manufacturing last year alone,” he said.

“Like every state and territory, Victoria benefits from econ­omic activity across the country, but is not dependent on it.”