But Mr Pallas, who was addressing a Bendigo Business Council luncheon, maintained state and local governments were the ones best-placed to make decisions about planning. 

The treasurer said he was eager to cooperate with the newly elected Coalition government, but was wary about those in Canberra “usurping” the planning authority of the states. 

“We've had very many federal government’s of all political persuasions starting to think that they actually knew what was best for communities,” he said. 

“What the Commonwealth don’t have is any great expertise or knowledge in this area.

“It’s much better that the governments that are closer to the communities make the substantive decisions.”

In a speech at the function’s outset, BBC chief executive officer Leah Sertori asked Mr Pallas to back Bendigo’s Smart Cities proposal.

She said the process her organisation envisaged was in the same vein as the one described by premier Daniel Andrews in his launch of the State of Momentum investment campaign on Thursday. 

The campaign outlined an intent for the government to take a more active role in stimulating the economy. 

Ms Sertori asked for the state government’s assistance in attracting the type of investment to Bendigo that could be used to fund utility-scale renewable energy assets. 

Increased investment in the city, perhaps through a “Bendigo bond” scheme, could also be used to improve access to and use of data, she said.   

The treasurer’s 45-minute speech also touched on several other aspect of the regional Victorian economy, something he believed to be in generally good health. 

But he conceded there were still areas of disadvantage that remained, and that it was the responsibility of governments like his to level the playing field for all Victorians.