Legislation and Regulation
Victoria depends on its abundant natural resources - including minerals, energy, fish, game and forests - to contribute great economic value to the State.
Our responsibilities include allocating natural resources to productive uses. Where possible, we achieve this through the development and regulation of efficient market arrangements.
We ensure resource use is sustainable and that it generates financial benefit to the state by:
- surveying and monitoring the location, quantity and nature of key resources;
- encouraging best-practice behaviours by providing education, inspection and enforcement services;
- protecting the quality and safety of primary products by building and maintaining Victoria's capability to monitor, detect and respond to disease, pest and residue incidents, outbreaks and other biosecurity threats;
- securing market access by promoting our biosecurity program to our trading partners; and
- enhancing access to international markets to primary producers through the development of new supply chain practices.
DPI’s Regulation and Compliance Group
The Regulation and Compliance Group was formed in 2012 to bring together related functions from across the department. The group is responsible for designing and delivering regulatory and compliance services in the areas of biosecurity, earth resources and forestry industries and for the overall management of fisheries and game resources. The group also ensures the department is well-prepared for emergencies, including responding to biosecurity incidents, natural disasters and other threats affecting the State’s agricultural, energy, earth resources, forestry and fisheries sectors.
Coordinating these functions from one group will improve central oversight and alignment of related functions from across the department. The Regulation and Compliance Group applies a consistent, risk-based and tailored regulatory framework and is committed to building expertise in delivering effective regulation services for key natural resource sectors on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Our structure shows how this group fits in to the department as a whole.
Enforcement
We have primary responsibility for administering legislation governing agriculture, animal welfare, fisheries, game and energy and earth resources.
Read more about our enforcement responsibilities and activities.
Fees and charges
We are responsible for collecting fees under regulations for a variety of activities including:
- fishing licences
- mining rights
- exploration licences.
We are also responsible for collecting monies for fines for improper conduct.
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives people the right to request access to documents held by the Department.
Major DPI Acts
We administer and respond to queries regarding 38 major Acts.
You can purchase copies of Victorian Government legislation from the Information Victoria bookshop.
Privacy
We value and protect all personal information collected in the course of undertaking our responsibilities and always demonstrate a strong culture of protecting the confidentiality and privacy of individuals and clients.
Regulatory reform
We play a role in regulatory reform through consultation with stakeholders and the public about the potential burden new or amended regulations may raise. We are also committed to reducing regulatory burden.
Tenders and contracts
Details of tenders and contracts for all departments within the Victorian Government provide important information for suppliers and service providers who may wish to do business with us.
Whistleblowers protection
We take all reasonable steps to protect people who come forward with a disclosure about improper conduct by public bodies or public sector employees (these people are sometimes referred to as whistleblowers).
Read more about Whistleblowers protection
