Victoria State Government

File:Victorian Coat of Arms.png

The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas. The Victorian Constitution says: "the Legislature of Victoria has full power and authority." In practice, however, the independence of the Australian states has been greatly eroded by the increasing financial domination of the Commonwealth.

Victoria is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Victoria, which consists of the Crown, represented by the Governor of Victoria, and the two Houses, the Victorian Legislative Council and the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. In practice executive power is exercised by the Premier of Victoria and the Cabinet, who are appointed by the Governor, but who hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Victoria and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

Current Departments and Statutory Bodies

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/

• Registered Schools Board
• Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
• Victorian Institute of Teaching
• Victorian Qualifications Authority

Department of Human Services (DHS)

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/

• Housing and Community Building Division (Office of Housing)
• Cemetery Trusts Victoria
• Various Medical Registration Boards
• Health Services Commissioner
• Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS)
• Rural Ambulance Victoria
• The Cancer Council Victoria
• Health Purchasing Victoria

Department of Infrastructure

http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/

• Marine Safety Victoria
• Energy Safe Victoria
• Port of Hastings Corporation
• Port of Melbourne Corporation
• VicRoads
• VicUrban
• V/Line Passenger Corporation
• Transport Ticketing Authority

Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development

http://www.diird.vic.gov.au/

• Office of the Workplace Rights Advocate
• Tourism Victoria

Department of Justice

http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/

• Consumer Affairs Victoria

Department of Premier and Cabinet

http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/

Department of Primary Industries

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/

• Environment Protection Authority
• Parks Victoria

Department of Treasury and Finance

http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/

• The Department of Treasury and Finance provides policy advice to the Victorian Government on economic, financial and resource management, supporting the delivery of its financially responsible and socially progressive policy platform.

• The Department formulates and implements the Government’s longer-term economic and budgetary objectives, which are to achieve economic growth for all regions of the State and increase the living standards of all Victorians.

Department of Planning and Community Development

http://www.dvc.vic.gov.au/

• Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation
• Victorian Multicultural Commission

External links

• Government of Victoria website
• The Constitution of Victoria