Malapportionment—large differences between the numbers of voters in electorates—has existed at different points in Victoria’s history. While changes occurred in the 1950s, it was only the electoral reforms of the 1980s that greatly reduced the extent of malapportionment across Legislative Assembly districts.

This Bill Brief provides an overview of the Crimes Amendment (Non-fatal Strangulation) Bill 2023, which establishes two offences for non-fatal strangulation. It offers some background to the Bill’s introduction, considers the second reading speech delivered by the Minister and looks at the Bill in greater detail.

The Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 introduces a number of amendments across Victoria’s transport framework. The most heavily publicised provision is the introduction of a closed-track trial to investigate how medicinal cannabis users can drive safely. This Bill Brief examines the amendments relating specifically to the road safety trial.

On 1 January 2024, timber harvesting in native forests will be banned in Victoria. This paper provides an overview of the timber industry in Victoria on the eve of significant change, outlining the varied and at times competing interests, policies, philosophies and approaches that influence a sector that has a wide range of stakeholders.

This Bill Brief outlines how the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) is currently structured, highlights some of the key points from recent reviews, and explains how the proposed new agency will work. This paper should not be considered a complete guide to the subject, but it examines a few key issues raised about the management...