Vic election promises to be kept 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.