Monash University experts are available to comment on the Victorian State Budget set to be handed down on Tuesday evening, including implications of the projected surplus, impact on the housing construction industry, boost to the Victorian health sector and political implications of the budget.
Dr Isaac Gross, Department of Economics, Monash Business School
Contact: + 61 490 819 643 or [email protected]
Read more of Dr Gross’ commentary here: Monash Lens
- Macroeconomic impact of the budget
- Monetary policy
The following can be attributed to Dr Gross:
“The Victorian budget marks the beginning of a long process toward repaying the state’s record levels of debt. The budget currently projects a wafer-thin surplus of $600 million. However, this figure excludes the billions of dollars being spent on infrastructure projects. As a result, debt is still forecast to rise for several more years. Bringing these costs under control will be essential to prevent interest payments from consuming an even larger share of the budget.
“Notably, most of the spending associated with the Suburban Rail Loop is not yet included in budget projections. We know this project will add tens of billions of dollars to total costs, and with no confirmed alternative funding sources, a large share of this burden is likely to fall on the Victorian budget in future years. That’s why beginning to pay down debt now remains a critical task.”
Dr Zareh Ghazarian, Head of Politics and International Relations Discipline, Monash School of Social Sciences
Contact: +61 402 851 224 or [email protected]
Read more of Dr Ghazarian’s commentary at Monash Lens
- The political implications of the budget
- General budget commentary
Professor Anthony Scott, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School
Contact: + 61 422 806 280 or [email protected]
Read more of Associate Professor Scott’s commentary here: Monash Lens
- Health economics
- Healthcare labour markets
- Economics of primary care and hospitals
The following can be attributed to Professor Scott:
“The increase in hospital funding is welcome to help struggling public hospitals, but managing demand is also a key issue.
“Though there is some focus on Urgent Care Clinics to keep people out of hospital emergency departments, and also virtual emergency departments, we need much more independent and high quality evaluation of the impacts of these reforms on quality, costs and equity of access.
“There is a danger that these initiatives just pick up unmet need, rather than actually keeping people out of hospitals, and so don't save any money at all. The commitment to pharmacy prescribing is also welcome to improve access for patients to some medicines, and save them from paying for GP consultations. This also takes some pressure off GPs so they can focus on more complex patients.”
Associate Professor Duncan Maxwell, Director of Future Building Initiative, Monash Art, Design and Architecture
Contact: +61 447 547 860 or [email protected]
Note: Associate Professor Maxwell is currently in the US (Eastern Standard Time (EST)) and is available for media interviews at the start or end of days (AEST).
Read more of Associate Professor Maxwell’s commentary at Monash Lens
- Modern methods of construction
- Prefabrication/offsite construction for housing
- Construction innovation and built environment productivity
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]