Minister for Finance (Georgeland)

The Minister for Finance and Economic Growth is a position in the Cabinet of Georgeland with responsibility for government expenditure, allocation of resources to government departments and bodies, and oversight of administration processes. The position is technically equal to the Treasurer of Georgeland, since all Cabinet ministers are of equal rank, but in practice the Treasurer has a greater level of input over financial matters. The role of Finance Minister supplements that of the Treasurer, with both departments collaborating on the annual budget. In general practice, the Treasury is responsible for fiscal policy and revenue, with the Finance Department overseeing expenditure. Like all Cabinet ministers, the Finance Minister must be a member of either the House of Commons or the Senate; unlike the Treasurer, he or she is not required to be an MP and can be a Senator.

The position was first created in 1891. Until 1932, it was the main economic portfolio, responsible for all budgetary and fiscal policy. In that year it was split between the two departments as a means of co-ordinating different policy approaches during the Great Depression. The Finance Department was abolished in 1949 and not re-instated until 1983, with its duties returned to Treasury. In 1983 the Quarton government re-established the Finance portfolio in order to facilitate deregulation of the economy.

Like many cabinet positions, the exact title of the minister and department has varied over the years. The position of Minister for Finance and Economic Growth was established by Tom Elderton's government in 2019. The present Minister for Finance is Sen. Hon. Douglas Jankowski, appointed on 1 July 2019.