Vic election promises to be kept in check

Victoria has a new, independent parliamentary budget officer to help keep election and budget promises in check.

Victoria's first independent parliamentary budget officer has been appointed to help politicians keep policy costs in check.

Former Queensland acting auditor-general Anthony Close will serve a five-year term, heading an office accessible to all state MPs and staffed by professionals like economists and researchers.

Mr Close's office will help prepare election policy costings, pre-election reports and post-election reports, and provide advice to MPs on financial, fiscal or economic matters including on the state budget.