Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is undertaking compliance activities designed to identify and deter noncompliance, encourage voluntary compliance and protect consumers. These activities are supported by a compliance framework to guide CAV’s compliance and enforcement officers in their activities, and to inform those it regulates. However, a range of administrative weaknesses undermine the effectiveness and efficiency...

Valuer-General Victoria (VGV) has been a branch of the former Department of Sustainability and Environment but has now transferred to the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Government under recent machinery of government changes. VGV provides independent valuations to public sector agencies. It is not subject to oversight or independent review of its valuation services...

The economic costs of congestion are significant and rising. While the state each year invests in initiatives to relieve congestion, it currently does so in the absence of a statewide plan with clearly defined objectives, strategies and associated agency responsibilities for congestion and travel demand management. Consequently, the state's approach to congestion management remains dominated...

This report found that the Department of Primary Industries is not discharging its legislative responsibilities to deliver balanced and sustainable outcomes for freshwater recreational fisheries. While it is demonstrably delivering improved recreational freshwater fishing outcomes, it is not paying sufficient attention to the protection and conservation of ecological processes, habitats and supporting ecosystems in these...

Victoria’s 79 councils rely heavily on the revenue generated by property-based rates and charges to provide services to local communities. In 2011–12, Victorian councils generated operating revenue of $8.18 billion, with rates and charges accounting for $4.09 billion, or 49 per cent, of the total. While councils work within a common rating framework comprising the...