From bouncer to Treasurer: How Jaclyn Symes is preparing to face her biggest test

She has worked as a bouncer, a lawyer and an adviser — but Jaclyn Symes’ biggest challenge now looms in delivering her first budget as Victorian Treasurer. Here she reveals how it’s shaping up.

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes. Picture: Jason Edwards

As a former bouncer, Jaclyn Symes knows how to stand her ground and say no to people.

She was in her mid-20s, partying too hard, and had found herself working on the door at Perth’s Cottesloe Hotel to earn a buck as she navigated post-university life.

Becoming a politician, let alone the state’s first female Treasurer, wasn’t exactly on her bucket list.

Little did she know that summer job in the early 2000s would help prepare her for the biggest job of her life.

“It was a long time ago but sure, my background as a bouncer could be pretty useful as the Treasurer,” she told the Herald Sun.

“You learn how to spot those trying to sweet talk their way into the venue when they really should be heading home, and I plan to be just as scrutinising when it comes to budget pitches.”

In her first sit-down interview since taking charge of the state’s finances in December last year, Ms Symes has opened up about the whirlwind first few months and the enormous task of delivering her first budget.

“I reckon I’ve said no to about every one of my parliamentary colleagues,” she said.

“It’s a big balancing exercise. It’s challenging because everyone wants to do more. The expectations that I have set for my colleagues is to bring me the highest priority in their portfolios and those highest priorities need to reflect the priorities of Victorians.”

Jaclyn Symes says it was ‘excruciating’ not being able to discuss her new role with anyone. Picture: David Caird

48 hours of ‘excruciating’ silence

Two days before Tim Pallas announced he would resign as Treasurer, Premier Jacinta Allan called Jaclyn Symes.

It was a Saturday, just before Christmas, and she was “kicking around with the kids” at her home near Seymour, about 90kms north of Melbourne.

Then Attorney-General, Ms Symes had been in what she described as a “back-and-forth” with the Premier’s office about legislation. She assumed the boss was calling to propose a resolution.

Instead, it was a career-changing call.

“Jacinta said: ‘I need you to be Treasurer’,” Ms Symes recalled.

“I responded: ‘Are you sure?’

“She said: ‘Yep, I’ll call you in the next couple of days to confirm.”

For the next six days, Ms Symes was sworn to absolute silence. It was “excruciating” not being able to discuss her new role with anyone, she said, except for her two politically disinterested kids, 13-year-old Philippa and 12-year-old Archie.

“I was explaining the role of Treasurer to Arch and he said: ‘That doesn’t sound very good at all, it sounds as though it’s hard and you’ll be away from home more. Plus it’s fun telling people that you’re the AG, because that sounds cool; the Treasurer sounds like you’re a pirate’,” she laughed.

Arch later justified this comparison when asked by the Herald Sun: “Yeah, because pirates look for treasure”.

Ms Symes with her son, Archie, at their rural property in Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

The making of a Treasurer

Born in Benalla, Jaclyn Symes was raised a “classic country kid” alongside her brother and cousins. Her father, a small liquor store owner, and her mother, a disability support worker, taught her the value of money and hard work.

At school, she was studious but teachers were shocked when she pulled the marks to do law at Deakin University in Burwood.

She followed a group of other Benalla kids to Melbourne, and they all lived between share houses.

“None of us had money so we had house parties and I drank beer – can’t touch the stuff anymore,” she said.

After university, with a law degree in hand, Ms Symes wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next. She couldn’t afford to move to London, so instead she went to Perth.

It was far enough from her humble beginnings, but close enough to hop on a plane back home when her grandfather’s cancer worsened.

As well as being a bouncer, she’s also ran her own ice-creamery back home in Benalla. She’s spent time as a disability support worker, a lawyer and at the Australian Services Union, where she fought for employment rights.

In her second term, Daniel Andrews asked Ms Symes to join cabinet as a minister looking after regional development, agriculture and resources. Picture: Jason Edwards

It was in the union world she became involved with the Labor Party, and landed a job as a ministerial adviser for then-Industrial Relations Minister Rob Hulls. Almost 20 years later, she now holds this portfolio.

In 2011, while heavily pregnant and working on the opposition benches, Ms Symes made headlines after she successfully overturned the parliament’s decision to not pay her maternity leave.

She initially ran for preselection in deputy Premier Ben Carroll’s seat of Niddrie, but was ultimately elected to parliament’s upper house during the 2014 ‘Danslide’. She represents the northern Victoria region.

During her second term, former Premier Daniel Andrews tapped Ms Symes on the shoulder and asked her to join cabinet as a minister looking after regional development, agriculture and resources.

She then served as emergency services minister during fires, floods and the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, where she oversaw a complete transformation of the fatally flawed triple-0 call taking system.

While Attorney-General, she implemented major justice reforms but was also forced to navigate a youth crime crisis where bail laws were a constant point of controversy.

One of her proudest moments was introducing laws to keep Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer behind bars forever.

Brian Russell, whose daughter Natalie was killed by Denyer, struck up an unlikely friendship with Ms Symes during his fight for advocacy.

“She wasn’t here to do any job on us, she was there to find out what we had been going through for 30 years and listened intently and took it all in,” he said.

“She’s popped in three or four times since then. When my wife passed she rang up as well. She’s become a real family friend.”

Harriet Shing describes Jaclyn Symes as ‘unflappable, determined and disarmingly down to earth’.

Set up to fail?

Jaclyn Symes knows she inherited a disastrous financial mess.

Under her predecessor’s watch, the state’s debt bill ballooned from $22.3bn when he took control of the books in 2014 – to a colossal $187.3bn by the end of 2027-28.

Some political figures have described Ms Symes’ promotion as a poisoned chalice. Others said it looked like a “glass cliff” elevation – the instance of promoting a woman in a crisis and setting her up for failure.

But Ms Symes – who is widely viewed as one of the most competent performers in cabinet – is much more optimistic.

“The Premier asked me to be the Treasurer because she thinks I can do a good job, she thinks I’ve got skills that I can bring to this role that others perhaps don’t have,” she said.

“What I want to bring to the role is new focus, energy, motivation – and fresh eyes will deliver different results.”

Her work bestie, fellow minister and upper house colleague Harriet Shing, said despite being a private person, “Jac” threw her entire self into her work.

“In the often vicious world of politics she’s also unflappable, determined and disarmingly down to earth,” she said.

Spiralling debt is something Ms Symes is desperate to reign in – and she’s already made moves to save cash by vowing to gut the public service which blew out under her predecessor.

Despite that desire to go her own way, it appears she is still reading from the Pallas playbook.

“Am I comfortable with our debt levels? No, that’s why I’m taking active steps to reduce it,” she said, pointing to a five-point plan unveiled years ago by the former treasurer.

The fourth step of that plan is to stabilise net debt levels as a proportion of GSP, which Ms Symes said is happening now. The final step is to reduce it. Net debt is set to peak in 2027/28 at a concerning 25 per cent of gross state product (GSP).

“That is, of course, high in recent history but lower than the 50 per cent in 1961, the 45 per cent in 1971 and the 95 per cent in 1931,” she said.

“My job is to be clear-eyed about the total picture – to speak frankly with the Victorian people about how we leverage our strengths and tackle our challenges.

“I welcome the debate about our fiscal situation, especially when it is out of concern for the future of the state, rather than the daily mantra of talking the state down. You will find me open to listen and engage with anyone coming to this debate with goodwill and ideas.”

Ms Symes was told she couldn’t be agriculture minister because she wore the ‘wrong shoes’ to a farm. Picture: Jason Edwards

Not up to the job

Just weeks into the role, Jaclyn Symes requested that staff go easy on the economic acronyms in emails and correspondence with her.

It sparked questions about competency and whether she had what it took to take on such an important job.

But Ms Symes said a comment that implied she’s not up to the job is “not new territory”, particularly for female politicians.

She was told she couldn’t be Agriculture Minister because she wore the “wrong shoes” – wedges – to a farm.

When she was Attorney-General, she got called a “giggling schoolgirl” because she said the word “friggin” in parliament.

And now, as Treasurer, she’s been called unqualified many of times.

“This is just what f--king happens to women when they get put in senior roles. It’s just bullshit,” she said.

This week Ms Symes held her very first Town Hall meeting. Picture: David Caird

New year, new gig

Jaclyn Symes has travelled into Melbourne almost every day since being sworn in formally on December 19.

During the Christmas-New Years’ break, Ms Symes had a few days off to take her kids down to the beach. She maintains she dutifully flicked through paperwork while her kids swam.

“I had budget papers in my backpack,” she laughed.

Now across her brief, each day begins with a phone call to Department of Treasury and Finance secretary Chris Barrett, before a long list of meetings and briefings.

This week she held her first Town Hall meeting, introducing herself to all 450 Department of Treasury and Finance employees.

She’s met with American billionaire and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who she described as a “very big deal”, to discuss investment opportunities in Victoria.

She’s also fronted the Premier’s Business Council — made up of some of the nation’s biggest minds including AFL boss Andrew Dillon, VISY chairman Anthony Pratt and Bunnings chief Mike Schneider, and had meetings with local stakeholders such as Paul Guerra from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Cath Evans from Property Council.

“I could speed date for the next year and still not get through the amount of people that are interested in getting in the diary,” she said.

Her biggest test: Budget Day

It’s the usual daily dance between the Treasurer and members of the media in the lead-up to Budget Day. What’s in the budget? Can you rule out new taxes? Will there be more support?

Ms Symes won’t be drawn on what’s in or out this year. But in most revealing comments yet, her first budget is shaping up to be the most cost-of-living friendly yet – and there will be relief for cash-strapped Victorians.

“Cost of living is the lens that I’m bringing to this year’s budget. We saw it last year, but this year there is even more of a focus on cost of living,” she said.

“There is a new layer of people that are struggling. The working poor. We’re seeing more people seeking food relief that have jobs. People are struggling with escalating costs of living, and I know that.

“Things are tight, yep, but we’ll always do what matters. Cost-of-living, education, health and community safety will always feature in the budget.”

Jaclyn Symes says she’s most at home when she’s with her kids, Pip and Arch, and dog Andre. Picture: Jason Edwards

Happy place

Jaclyn Symes is most herself at home in regional Victoria with her kids, Pip and Arch, and dog Andre.

Her property sits on three acres, so she spends almost as much time on her ride-on mower maintaining the backyard as she does in her ministerial car.

There’s also usually a project she’s working on — most recently a fire pit, but she wants to tile the kitchen splashback next.

“I thrive when I am confronted with a furniture flat pack or garden project,” she said.

“It’s no secret that I am at home in the country with my bogan tendencies. I’m happy to wear my Ugg boots to IGA and I know I swear way too much.”

Ms Symes – who separated from her husband two years ago – said it was challenging to balance the demands of public office with raising two kids on the cusp of their teenage years.

“I am fortunate to be financially secure and have a well-developed support system that enables me to do what I do – and amen for grocery deliveries,” she said.

“I suffer parental guilt, though. They buy lunch from the canteen more than I’d like and I suffer work guilt having to say no to certain invites that I feel I shouldn’t.”

Most nights she gets home after 7pm and the first thing to do is make school lunches, before getting started on dinner – usually poke bowls or tacos.

Despite the “(dis)organised chaos”, she wouldn’t change a thing.

“My kids are incredible, they are funny and wonderful and even the toughest days melt away listening to what is important to them,” she said.

“I show them that I can be strong, capable, have an important job and work hard but I am still their mum first.”

Rapid fire with Treasurer Jaclyn Symes

What book would you take to a desert island? How to Survive on a Desert Island

Favourite food? Cheese

You can only listen to one song again, which is it? Every Day’s The Weekend – Alex Lahey

Favourite sporting team? Matildas

Best holiday spot? Northeast Victoria - Rutherglen, King Valley, Beechworth, Myrtleford

Best way to spend a Sunday arvo? At a farmer’s market then eating/drinking purchases

What did you want to be growing up? I wasn’t sure but wanted to carry a briefcase

Three people to dinner, dead or alive? Watch my son interact with David Attenborough and Steve Irwin

Any heroes? My parents and grandparents always will be

Biggest influence? The Victorians I have met through my work – emergency services volunteers, farmers, CLC lawyers – so many motivating people

Most proud of? My kids

Best sandwich? Cheese toastie

What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out? All the cords in the “cord drawer”

Have you ever asked someone for their autograph? No

Most used app on your phone? NYT Games – I play Wordle and Connections daily

Coffee order? Oat latte

Originally published as From bouncer to Treasurer: How Jaclyn Symes is preparing to face her biggest test