Labor defends $400k spend on ‘jelly beans and yo-yo’s’

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Victoria's State Electricity Commission has been slammed as an exercise in "spin not substance" by a frustrated state opposition.

The Liberal Party has obtained details of the SEC's marketing budget.

Since April 2023, a total of $380,594 has been spent including thousands of dollars on branded tote bags, notebooks, pens and yo-yos.

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Brighton MP James Newbury said the spend was "offensive".

"Victorians want to see their power prices reduced and all they know instead is the minister's been buying jelly beans and yo-yos," he said.

"Power prices are up 25 per cent. It is offensive to think that the Labor government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on junk. It's merchandising junk."

Big ticket items on the SEC's marketing bill include $101,634 to develop brand guidelines, a new website and updates worth $70,917 and the design of a strategic plan for a combined $37,007.

The minister in charge, Labor's Lily D'Ambrosio, said all of it was critical to "rebuilding the SEC from the ground up".

"We've got to be able to explain what the SEC does so that we set it up to be successful," she said.

"And it's working. The fact is we've had more than 100 investors expressing an interest to invest with the SEC on our first project."

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A giant battery at Melton became the SEC's first major investment late last year.

The $1 billion battery will have the capacity to power Geelong and Ballarat for up to four hours when it opens in 2025.

Victoria tipped in $245 million for a 38 per cent stake in the ownership.

D'Ambrosio insisted the project – which was already planned – wouldn't have become a reality without state investment.

"The project that the SEC is working with to develop was not anywhere near financial close and it's got it over the line," she said.

"What will emerge as the SEC's second major investment is unclear after the Federal Government vetoed state plans for a wind energy terminal at the Port of Hastings.

The opposition believes "the entire project is collapsing before our eyes".

"These are some of the proper planning things that you need to get right if you're going to decarbonise the economy," Newbury said.

"There was a commitment that the government would have major ownership in each of its investments."

"That promise has been rescinded."

You can see the full SEC marketing bill here.