Regulatory Reform and Local Government Policy

Victoria is making it easier to do business by reducing unnecessary red tape and simplifying government processes, so businesses can focus on what they do best: creating jobs, fostering innovation and driving economic growth.

The 2025-26 Budget committed $627 million to support business and grow the Victorian economy, including $240 million to deliver the Economic Growth Statement in full.

Purpose of regulatory reform

We do this by working towards a smarter, simpler regulatory system that helps businesses get things done while ensuring the community remains protected.

We work with businesses, communities, and delivery partners to understand the challenges they face and, to deliver practical solutions that support a thriving Victorian economy.

What we do

  • Invest in regulatory reform and cut red tape in regional Victoria: Work with delivery partners to fund priority reform initiatives under the $40 million Business Acceleration Fund (BAF). Reforms delivered by the BAF are expected to deliver more than $250 million of benefits annually by reducing red tape, simplifying processes and speeding up approvals.
  • Cut the cost of regulation: Deliver the Government’s commitment to reduce the regulatory burden by $500 million by 2030, made under the Economic Growth Statement in 2024.
  • Modernise regulation: Collaborate with departments to identify and modernise outdated regulatory legislation that is no longer considered fit for purpose.
  • Fewer, faster and simpler approvals: Explore opportunities for how licensing for businesses and individuals can be streamlined to create a more agile workforce and economy.
  • Update outdated and unnecessary rules and regulatory practices: Review regulatory issues in key sectors that impact businesses, to identify solutions that can be actioned quickly .
  • Manage the Council and Regulator Toolkit, providing practical guidance and tools to support regulators and local councils with better practice regulation and issue a quarterly regulatory reform newsletter.
  • Manage the Statement of Expectations Framework for Regulators to enable portfolio ministers to provide clear guidance on the Government’s strategic priorities.

Our achievements

  • Facilitated four DTF Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bills since 2022 to improve regulation, align laws with government policy, streamline provisions, reduce administrative burden, and make minor uncontroversial amendments. A fifth Bill is planned for 2027.
  • Developed best practice legislative provisions with the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel on regulatory topics. We have published guidance and standard provisions on Confidentiality and Information Sharing and Fit and Proper Person Tests, with more to come.
  • Funded over 50 projects across departments, regulators and local councils since 2022 under the BAF that support the growth of Victorian businesses through digitisation, streamlined requirements and efficient regulatory services.
  • Some examples of individual reforms:
    • Prompt removal of the requirement for hospitality businesses to get a planning permit if they have previously obtained a liquor licence, reducing costs and delays for businesses.
    • Automated permits that cut application times for an access permit for a heavy vehicle transport route from 6 months to 15 days, and cost to operators from $10,000 to $100.
    • Moved the paper-based Certificates for Electrical Safety that electricians need to issue every time they lodge a certificate to an online system so that 50,000 electricians across Victoria now save an hour every time they lodge.

How you can connect with us

Stay up to date with regulatory reform opportunities, access practical examples, and connect with subject matter experts.

Grants

Business Acceleration Fund

The Business Acceleration Fund is a grant program that supports Victorian Government agencies and local councils to implement reforms that make it quicker and easier for businesses to get the approvals they need.

Legislation

DTF's Regulatory Omnibus Bill

Periodic omnibus bills enable the continual modernisation of regulation to reduce regulatory burden and ensure that regulatory frameworks are fit-for-purpose.

Model Legislative Provisions

These Guides on Model Provisions offer clear, consistent advice for developing effective and more streamlined legislation across Victoria.

Frameworks and guides

Statement of Expectations Framework for Regulators

Helping regulators identify government priorities and emerging risks, and create processes for addressing them through business planning.

Digital Procurement Guide

Defines the steps to procure information technology products and associated services for any regulator seeking to make confident procurement decisions.

Guides to Local Laws

Guidance to improve local laws, developed with and for councils.

Victorian Fit and Proper Test Framework

Guiding policy makers and regulators on designing and managing fit and proper tests.

Updated

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