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The BAF is a $40 million grants program supporting the implementation of regulatory reforms that make Victoria an easier place to do business. It aims to save businesses and workers time and money by streamlining regulatory processes across the State’s regulators and local councils.
Under the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement announced on 10 November 2024, the BAF received $14 million of additional funding to support state agencies and local councils implement digital and AI projects and initiatives that boost Victoria’s regional economy.
Apply for funding
The next round of BAF closes on 28 August 2026.
If you wish to make an application, please contact reg.reform@dtf.vic.gov.au prior to applying. We will advise you on whether your idea meets the criteria for the BAF and provide you with a copy of the application form.
About the BAF
The BAF and its predecessor, the Regulation Reform Incentive Fund (RRIF), have already supported more than 130 game-changing projects across Victoria’s state and local governments and regulators.
These projects are already seeing many benefits for Victoria’s businesses, including:
- more targeted regulations
- faster licensing
- accessible and user-friendly application processes
- streamlined and digitised applications
- simplified pre-employment credential processes.
We encourage co-contributions, especially for larger projects.
Need inspiration? Here are some successful projects the BAF has funded:
- Set up a Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination role to significantly reduce approval times for construction projects.
- Remove the need for unnecessary food safety compliance programs for 30,000 low-risk businesses, so they can focus on customers and business development.
- Streamline annual liquor licence renewals for around 25,000 bars, restaurants and venues.
- Digitise health, hospitality and trader applications, so businesses can get their approvals faster.
View the list of projects funded through the RRIF and BAF below.
State government projects funded
This list contains completed and ongoing projects.
Department of Transport and Planning Develop an automated, web-based system to allow Class 1 vehicle operators to assess structural compliance with Victorian arterial road requirements to better plan their routes. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop a public-facing IT system to enable self-service for biodiversity offsets and impact assessment reports. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop a biosecurity services portal to digitise agriculture chemical user licences and permits. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop an online system for agricultural businesses that require a commercial wildlife licence. Department of Transport and Planning Develop a website to inform consumers and reduce building disputes. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Upgrade Heritage Victoria's website and payment systems, including an online dashboard for applications. Department of Education Develop an online portal for Early Childhood Education and Care service assessments. Consumer Affairs Victoria Upgrade myCAV to include licensing and registration schemes from legacy IT systems. Department of Transport and Planning Create a web portal to accelerate permit applications for the traffic management industry. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop digital platforms and services to help agriculture businesses navigate planning requirements and undertake business development opportunities. Department of Government Services Integrate with Service Victoria's platform to enable businesses to verify their identity online. Department of Family, Fairness and Housing Develop an online portal to streamline the community sector's interactions with the Human Services Regulator. Department of Government Services Create an online system for workers and volunteers to verify their identity for NDIS checks and Working with Children Checks. Department of Premier and Cabinet Develop a centralised Victorian Government website for businesses to post public notices required by regulations. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop an online portal for participants in heritage hearings to more easily submit forms, make submissions and share information. Department of Health Build an interactive web form for pest control licence applications. Liquor Control Victoria Develop a streamlined digital system for liquor licence renewals. Liquor Control Victoria Redesign Liquor Control Victoria’s website architecture to improve content quality and make it easier to find. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Expand the Agriculture Victoria Connect portal to include the Property Identification Code system for horse traceability. Wage Inspectorate of Victoria Upgrade the Child Employment Licence Portal to make applying for a child employment licence simpler and less time consuming, without compromising safety. Consumer Affairs Victoria Enhance the MyCAV portal to allow engineers to report their Continued Professional Development compliance digitally. Victoria Police Implement an end-to-end, fully digital, application lodgement process for Service Victoria firearms, weapons and private security guards, without compromising safety. Victorian Fisheries Authority Develop a platform that enables seafood businesses to trade fishing quotas in real time, reducing burden and improving the efficiency of Victoria's quota management system. Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission Develop an online portal for gambling-related applications. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop an external interface to enable site assessors, credit owners and brokers to complete data collection and forms online. Department of Government Services Develop an API capability program to enable automated Working with Children Checks with time-status updates and eliminate manual file uploads by businesses. Environment Protection Authority Victoria Streamline the EPA's business processes, map environmental hazard sites across Victoria, and establish an EPA portal to give customers a single point of interaction. Energy Safe Victoria Digitise paper-based certificates of electrical safety on ESVConnect and enhance portal usability. Labour Hire Authority Develop a digital ID verification system for labour hire applicants. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Create a digital mapping system of agriculture land use across Victoria that allows businesses and councils to enable new business permit applications and shaping of zoning and overlays to support farm and related food businesses. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Develop a more risk-based regulatory framework that rewards a positive food-safety culture in the meat, dairy and seafood industries, and frees regulator resources to focus on high-risk compliance concerns. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Implement customer relationship management software and web portal to enable businesses to apply for approvals and perform annual reporting online. Safe Transport Victoria Upgrade the digital platform to be able to assess and manage applications for CPV drivers and participation in the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program with faster approvals Department of Government Services Enhance reusable digital capabilities including identity verification and payment systems that will be rolled out to regulators. Department of Transport and Planning Implement new technologies to allow plumbers to inspect sites remotely. Department of Transport and Planning Introduce an online system for the Driving Instructor Authority approval process. Department of Justice and Community Safety Develop digital guides and training material for Work and Development Permits. Department of Justice and Community Safety Provide employers and community organisations with direct access to ChildCheck. Department of Government Services Replace the physical Working with Children Check card with an electronic card. Department of Justice and Community Safety Create a priority service for people applying for primary identity documents urgently. Department of Fairness, Families and Housing Streamline disability support worker registration. Department of Transport and Planning Streamline the building practitioner registration process. Victoria Police Streamline the National Police Check process through digitisation. Department of Health Create clinical practice guides that first aid providers can use instead of needing to create their own and speed up the approval process for new licensees. Department of Education Digitise licensing for Early Childhood Education and Care providers. Department of Justice and Community Safety Develop abridged death certificates that executors can receive 6 months sooner. Department of Transport and Planning Codify low-risk planning referrals made to the Department of Transport. Department of Transport and Planning Improve the planning approval process for transport infrastructure applicants. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Streamline the heritage permit process for low-harm and no-harm applications. Housing Registrar Streamline Housing Registrar registration by enhancing the Community Housing Information Management and Engagement System. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Streamline minerals exploration licences. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Streamline licence approval for businesses in the meat and seafood industry. Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions Develop and implement tools to help local councils improve approval processes for hospitality businesses. Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Streamline the Vet Board's registration process using the Digitally Ready Regulators Playbook to remove unnecessary steps and digitise the process to make veterinary licences easier and quicker to get. Creative Victoria Develop an infographic map that explains the compliance process for live music events to businesses to create smoother inspections and minimise disruptions for businesses. Department of Transport and Planning Streamline planning processes for potentially contaminated land, and improve guidance and training resources, for faster planning approvals. Department of Transport and Planning Enhance the structural assessment engine for heavy vehicles to include more detailed models for Victorian bridges and culverts. Liquor Control Victoria Implement Better Regulation Victoria's 'Better Practice Permissions Playbook' to ensure Liquor Control Victoria's regulatory processes are fit for purpose. Resources Victoria Establish a systematised approach to improve regulatory guidance material and an online portal to help businesses find application information. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Change the permissions framework for events and festivals to remove disproportionate EPA-related permit requirements for low-risk events, without compromising noise outcomes. Department of Transport and Planning Develop better targeted, consistent and risk-based regulatory requirements for ‘place of public entertainment occupancy’ permits to streamline approvals for recurring and multi-year events and festivals. Victorian Building Authority Develop an eLearning course to educate building surveyors on using the correct legal instruments to reduce building rework. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Develop tools to support applications for businesses using or developing marine and coastal Crown land while improving the application assessment process.
Local government projects funded
This list contains completed and ongoing projects.
Hume Upgrade the council website to make it more accessible for businesses. Mansfield Implement a digital system for permit applications to allow online lodgement and payment. Yarra and Port Phillip Reduce business permit barriers by merging council commercial vacancy datasets and permit information. Melbourne Develop a Digital Permit Management Solution. Boroondara Digitise the council’s business application process. Darebin Improve the council’s recent planning reforms to include building approvals. Greater Geelong Digitise 100 technical permits in construction, business and on-street parking. Murrindindi Streamline the council’s business registration and application process by digitising forms and developing supporting resources. Ballarat Improve the council website to make it more accessible and streamline planning processes. Yarra Streamline business permit application, assessment and approval processes to create a more efficient and user-friendly system and develop a user-friendly application portal to minimise paperwork and streamline information collection. City of Boroondara Deliver a digital event permit system and supporting resources that allows businesses to easily apply for and organise events through a single portal. City of Greater Dandenong Create an AI chatbot to provide accessible and multilingual guidance on council permit requirements. Maroondah Build a customer relationship management platform that will store all business information in one location. Merri-bek Develop a customer relationship management platform. Stonnington and Port Phillip Streamline and digitise the councils’ permit processes systems. Kingston Build a customer relationship management platform. Banyule Integrate the council’s lodgement portal with their document management system. Knox Digitise business applications. Yarra Develop a back-end system and online portal for the council’s business enquiries. Hume Expand the council's current customer management system to include regulatory planning information. Mansfield with Murrindindi, Strathbogie and Benalla Digitise health and wastewater permits for four local councils to allow businesses to apply for health and wastewater permits online and track their application status. Monash Digitise public health registration and footpath trading renewals to make the process simpler, faster and more efficient. Merri-bek Improve commercial guidelines and factsheets. Nillumbik Develop a better business toolkit. Stonnington Develop a Visual Footpath Trade Policy. Wodonga Develop online resources to improve the business application process. Melton Automate low-risk permits through the Service Victoria platform. Moira Enhance and digitise business application and approval processes. Melton Develop consistent provisions for permits, including asset protection. Maroondah Develop consistent provisions for permits relating to roadside trading, footpath trading, fitness training in parks and skip bins. Glen Eira Centralise the council’s data management system. Mansfield Restructure and modernise local laws to streamline business permit processes and reduce the number of permits that businesses need. Bayside City Council Restructure and modernise local laws to streamline business permit processes and reduce the number of permits that businesses need. Greater Geelong Digitise planning files associated with property information requests. Hume Digitise planning files. Knox Digitise historical food and health files. Darebin Digitise historical building files. Mansfield Digitise planning, building and health files. Banyule Digitise planning files. Boroondara Digitise planning files. Hobsons Bay Digitise historical files. Moonee Valley Digitise historical planning and building files. Monash Digitise planning files. Murrindindi Digitise files. Queenscliffe Digitise historical building and planning files. Yarra Digitise planning files. Melbourne Digitise planning files. Warrnambool Digitise historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Merri-bek Digitise historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Geelong Digitise historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Corangamite Digitise historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster. City of Greater Dandenong Digitising historical building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Hobsons Bay City Council Digitising historical building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Knox City Council Digitising historical building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Maribyrnong City Council Digitising historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster. Cardinia Shire Council Digitising historical microfiche/aperture cards to make planning and building approvals faster. City of Melbourne Digitising historical planning files to make planning and building approvals faster. Whitehorse City Council Digitising historical planning and building files to make planning and building approvals faster.
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