Just as the needs of the community have evolved over time, so too must public services.
Last December’s Economic Growth Statement contained key commitments to reduce the regulatory burden on business and make it easier to navigate approvals.
For example, recent reforms are saving hospitality businesses up to $7,000 by removing duplication requiring them to get both a planning permit and a liquor licence to serve alcohol.
A new digitisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) program will speed up approvals, saving businesses even more time and money.
The Review identifies that a range of public entities and boards that once served an important purpose are no longer needed.
By merging similar bodies, returning functions to core government departments, or winding down bodies that have achieved their policy goals, the government will reduce the number of public entities and boards by 29.
The government has also chosen not to act on some of the Review’s recommendations. In many instances, there are significant reforms underway that require completion before further structural changes can be contemplated. For some recommendations, more detailed assessment is required.
But in other areas, the government has been able to go further than the recommendations of the Review, identifying additional ways to reduce duplication.
Halving the number of business regulators by 2030
The Victorian Government is already working to cut red tape by halving the number of business regulators by 2030. Announced in the Economic Growth Statement, this will mean Victoria will have the lowest number of regulators of any state in the nation.
The government has already:
- merged the Victorian Building Authority, Domestic Building Disputes Resolution Victoria and the domestic building insurance arm of the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority to create the new Building and Plumbing Commission, which commenced operation on 1 July 2025
- announced the creation of Safe Food Victoria, which will combine the regulatory activities of PrimeSafe, Dairy Food Safety Victoria, local councils and the Department of Health. Safe Food Victoria is planned to begin operations in mid-2026.
After carefully considering the findings of the Silver Review, the government is now announcing the next phase of regulator consolidations:
- bringing the Architects Registration Board, Surveyors Registration Board and the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board into the Business Licensing Authority to form a new Business and Professions Regulator
- creating Outdoor Recreation Victoria by bringing together the Game Management Authority and the Victorian Fisheries Authority
- absorbing Recycling Victoria into the Environment Protection Authority
- combining the Victorian Legal Services Board and its Commissioner with the Legal Admissions Board into a single Legal Practitioner Regulator.
Merging or streamlining entities with similar functions
The Review has identified opportunities to reduce duplication by merging entities with overlapping or similar functions. In response, the government will:
- amalgamate the functions of the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner and the Victorian Racing Integrity Board into a new integrity assurance body, the Racing Integrity Commission Victoria
- merge the Community Safety Building Authority into the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority
- merge Emergency Recovery Victoria into Emergency Management Victoria
- abolish the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and transfer its investigation and assessment functions to the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability
- abolish the Firearms Appeal Committee and transfer functions to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
- merge the Judicial College of Victoria and the Judicial Commission of Victoria, bringing the management of complaints regarding judicial officers together with education and professional development functions
- absorb the Health Complaints Commissioner into Safer Care Victoria
- re-focus Infrastructure Victoria on its core statutory functions, primarily the review and updating of Victoria’s rolling 30-year infrastructure strategy, and reduce its operating budget to reflect this targeted focus
- reduce the number of Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioners to create operational efficiencies and deliver similar outcomes with fewer resources
- consolidate the management of investment funds into the Victorian Funds Management Corporation, who currently oversee the investment of more than $95 billion on behalf of the government and 31 Victorian public authorities and related organisations.
Moving functions into government departments
The Review found there are some entities and boards whose functions are not (or no longer) required to operate at arm’s length from government, or functions overlap with the existing work of core departments. Consolidating functions into departments enables clearer lines of accountability and makes government less complex to navigate for citizens and business.
The government will:
- move VicHealth and HealthShare Victoria into the Department of Health
- transfer the functions of the Victorian Government Purchasing Board to the Department of Government Services
- transfer the functions of the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- transfer the functions of the Motor Car Traders Claims Committee to the Department of Government Services
- move the regulatory functions of Parks Victoria into the Conservation Regulator
- phasing out Court Services Victoria as a separate government entity, while preserving Courts Council and separation of functions critical to ensuring judicial independence
- consolidate mRNA Vic and Medical Research, Innovation and Technology functions within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.
Winding-up entities that are no longer needed
The government will also cease entities that have achieved their original intent and are no longer required, with any residual functions transferring to other entities or departments.
The government will abolish:
- Sustainability Victoria, with its focus on environmental sustainability now having been adopted by other related Victorian Government entities
- Cladding Safety Victoria at the end of its remit to rectify extreme and high-risk buildings, which is expected in December 2025
- Latrobe Health Assembly, whose functions can now be carried out by Local Public Health Units, which were subsequently established to deliver health promotion communications and activities for local communities
- the Trade and Investment Advisory Board, which has been superseded by new forums, including the Premier’s Business Council
- the Police Informants Royal Commission Implementation Monitor
- the Victorian Public Sector Commission Advisory Board
- the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council
- the Road Safety Camera Commissioner and Reference Group.
Reducing the number of advisory committees
The government agrees with the Review’s finding that 90 Victorian Government advisory committees is too many and that more modern, efficient and flexible methods for seeking policy advice are available to ministers and departments.
The government has already commenced an assessment of ongoing need for a range of advisory committees to further reduce waste, inefficiency and spending in areas that aren’t the priority for Victorians.
Updated