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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 (DEECD)
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is one of the largest employers in the Victorian Government with more than 60,000 employees working from more than 1800 locations.
- Registered Schools Board
- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
- Victorian Institute of Teaching
- Victorian Qualifications Authority
Department of Human Services (DHS)
The Department of Human Services is the Victorian Government's largest department. Its responsibilities include health, mental health, senior citizens, community services, and public housing.
The department directly employs more than 13,000 people and funds hospitals, aged care facilities, ambulance services, and community service agencies that collectively employ more than 80,000 people.
- Cemetery Trusts Victoria
- Health Purchasing Victoria
- Health Services Commissioner
- Housing and Community Building Division (Office of Housing)
- Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS)
- Rural Ambulance Victoria
- Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)
- The Cancer Council Victoria
- Various Medical Registration Boards
In August 2009 the Victorian Premier announced that DHS was to be restructured, to create a new Department of Health "focusing on hospital performance, mental health and prevention"; all other responsibilities will be retained by DHS. [1]
Department of Transport
- Energy Safe Victoria
- Marine Safety Victoria
- Port of Hastings Corporation
- Port of Melbourne Corporation
- Transport Ticketing Authority
- V/Line Passenger Corporation
- VicRoads
- VicTrack
- VicUrban
Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
- Skills Victoria
- Tourism Victoria
- Workplace Rights Advocate
victorian cross
Department of Justice
Department of Premier and Cabinet
- State Services Authority
- Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Department of Primary Industries
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
- Catchment Management Authority
- Environment Protection Authority
- Parks Victoria
- Victorian Catchment Management Council
- Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council
- Victorian Environment Assement Council
- Land Victoria
- Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability
- Wildlife and Game Liscensing Service
- Integrated Emergency Co-ordination Centre (iECC)
- Spatial Information and Infrastructure
Website: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/
Department of Treasury and Finance
- 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
- Adult, Community and Further Education Board
- Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation (Now defunct)
- Victorian Multicultural Commission
References
External links
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