Ministerial Statements of Expectations

A Ministerial Statement of Expectations (SoE) aims to improve regulatory governance and performance. The statements articulate the Government's priorities and objectives for the department's agriculture portfolio regulators.

The development of each statement is a collaborative effort. Consultation takes place with each regulator to ensure the statements are fit for purpose and take into account the regulator's circumstances, including objectives, legislative basis, size of organisation, and current practices and processes.

Agriculture Victoria

In relation to SoEs, the department has broad regulatory responsibility within the agriculture portfolio. Regulatory powers and functions are allocated to the Minister for Agriculture and in many cases these powers are delegated.

The department regulates biosecurity matters to minimise the impact of pest, disease, invasive plants and animals, chemical use and residues, and animal welfare incidents upon Victorian market access, environment and production systems, while ensuring food safety and public health.

Note: On 1 January 2019 Agriculture Victoria transitioned to the newly created Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR). Publications prior to this date were published under and refer to the previous departmental name – The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR).

Statutory regulators

Ministerial SoEs for the five statutory regulators in the agriculture portfolio are published on their websites.

• Dairy Food Safety Victoria
• Game Management Authority
• PrimeSafe
• Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria
• Victorian Fisheries Authority

In accordance with the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Guidelines for Evaluation of Statements of Expectations for Regulators (January 2018), the department has undertaken an evaluation of SoEs and its development process for regulators.

This assesses the regulator’s performance progress against the objectives and provides an opportunity for the department to identify improvements to the SoE development process.