Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas spends close to $100K of taxpayer funds on overseas trip

Taxpayers will fork out almost $100,000 to fund Tim Pallas’ 18-day travel junket abroad, his 11th since becoming Victoria’s treasurer.

Treasurer Tim Pallas racked up a bill of almost $100,000 during his latest trip overseas. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Treasurer Tim Pallas has racked up almost $100,000 on his latest travel junket, visiting China, France the UK and the US.

The multi-continental tour de force — his 11th since becoming treasurer — was aimed at promoting Victoria to key international stakeholders.

It cost taxpayers $96,366, including $51,000 on flights for Mr Pallas 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 jaunt.

The trip could emerge as Mr Pallas’ last, with it widely expected he will stand down from politics after handing down his 10 budget in May.

A Department of Finance and Treasury report, published on Friday, revealed a breakdown of costs for the November trip.

“The mission promoted Victoria as a stable, well governed jurisdiction to key international stakeholders, including existing and prospective international investors, the World Bank,

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last November. Picture: AAP

International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and ratings agencies,” the report said.

The trip coincided with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China where the pair attended a reception of Australian businesses.

While in China Mr Pallas also spoke at the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs “to reinforce Victoria’s role as a supplier of premium dairy products to China and attended a Victorian spirits showcase.

He opened a new Victorian Government Trade and Investment office in Paris, and met with key existing and potential UK investors while in London.

As part of his trip to the US, Mr Pallas met with credit rating agencies Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch while in New York “to discuss Victoria’s

economic performance and outlook, fiscal strategy and infrastructure investment program and Victoria’s credit ratings.”

In Washington he met with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to discuss the global economic outlook.

Mr Pallas is expected to stand down politics later this year. Picture: Getty

A spokesman for the Treasurer said the trip promoted Victoria as a stable jurisdiction to key international stakeholders and prospective investors.

“We don’t sit back and wait for the world to come to us,” he said.

“The trade and investment mission enabled the Treasurer to engage directly with key business and finance leaders, promote the state’s export offerings and highlight opportunities for foreign investments.

“Further investments stand to flow from connections made on this mission, supporting delivery of the state’s funding requirements, bolstering jobs and industry opportunity.”

The cost was significantly higher than the Treasurer’s last trip in 2022 which cost taxpayers $67,000 for a three-week jaunt across Germany, France, England and the US.

Shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell said Mr Pallas’ priorities were misplaced.

“Instead of racking up more cost to taxpayers on junkets, the Treasurer should be focusing on how he is easing the cost of living pressures for Victorians,” he said.

“Victorians are experiencing a cost of living crisis which has been made worse by Labor’s new taxes and economic vandalism over the last decade and sent the state broke.

“Labor can’t manage money and all Victorians are now paying the price.

“The Treasurer’s junkets don’t pass the pub test as he prepares to occupy the permanent departure lounge and retire from politics.”