Department of Transport (Victoria, Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Department of Transport or DOT is the central Government agency
responsible for the coordination, integration and regulation of the transport system in the State of Victoria
, Australia
. The Department's stated mission is "Building a safer, fairer and greener transport system for all Victorians to create a more prosperous and connected community."
. These agencies can be divided into three main types - statutory offices, statutory authorities and independent transport safety agencies.
Together with DOT, the agencies provide, manage and regulate transport system activities in Victoria
including -
The statutory offices include -
These agencies are part of the Department of Transport but each has a distinct statutory charter and powers.
The statutory authorities are -
These agencies are structurally separate from the Department of Transport.
These agencies are part of the Department of Transport but are functionally independent and report to the relevant Ministers.
.
The Transport Integration Act
provides that the objects of the Department are to -
The Act provides that the "...principal function of the Department is to assist the Minister in the administration of this Act
and other transport legislation..." Other functions conferred on the Department include -
The Act also provides the Secretary of the Department with a range of specific powers including the power to enter into any agreement or contract.
The Transport Integration Act
imposes a range of responsibilities on the Department of Transport. These include -
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
responsible for the coordination, integration and regulation of the transport system in the State of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Department's stated mission is "Building a safer, fairer and greener transport system for all Victorians to create a more prosperous and connected community."
Ministerial portfolios
The Department of Transport supports three Ministerial portfolios, the Minister for Public Transport, the Minister for Roads and the Minister for Ports. It also supports one Parliamentary Secretary for Transport.Agencies
DOT oversees and coordinates the activities of the state agencies responsible for the transport system in VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. These agencies can be divided into three main types - statutory offices, statutory authorities and independent transport safety agencies.
Together with DOT, the agencies provide, manage and regulate transport system activities in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
including -
- heavy and light rail systems including trains and trams
- roads systems and vehicles including carsCARSCars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
, trucks and bicycles - ports and waterways including commercial ships and recreational vessels
- some air transport systems.
Statutory offices
- the Director of Public TransportDirector of Public TransportThe Director of Public Transport is the Government agency responsible for promoting, providing, coordinating and regulating public transport in the State of Victoria, Australia...
- the Transport Infrastructure Development Agent.
These agencies are part of the Department of Transport but each has a distinct statutory charter and powers.
Statutory authorities
- the Roads Corporation (VicRoads)VicRoadsVicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...
- Victorian Rail Track (VicTrack)VicTrackVicTrack is the Victorian Government agency which owns all railway and tram lines, associated rail lands and other related rail-related infrastructure in the state of Victoria, Australia....
- V/Line Corporation (V/Line)V/LineV/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
- Taxi Services CommissionTaxi Services CommissionThe Taxi Services Commission is the independent Government agency responsible for conducting a major inquiry, the Taxi Industry Inquiry, into taxi and other small commercial passenger vehicle services in the State of Victoria, Australia...
- the Linking Melbourne Authority
- the Port of Melbourne CorporationPort of Melbourne CorporationThe Port of Melbourne Corporation is a statutory body established by the Victorian Government. The Corporation commenced operations on 1 July 2003, when it took over the management of the Port of Melbourne from Melbourne Port Corporation...
- the Victorian Regional Channels Authority
- the Transport Ticketing Authority
- the Regional Rail Link Authority.
These agencies are structurally separate from the Department of Transport.
Independent transport safety agencies
The independent transport safety agencies are -- the Director, Transport SafetyDirector, Transport SafetyThe Director, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for rail, bus and marine safety in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport Integration Act 2010...
(Transport Safety VictoriaDirector, Transport SafetyThe Director, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for rail, bus and marine safety in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport Integration Act 2010...
) - the Chief Investigator, Transport SafetyChief Investigator, Transport SafetyThe Chief Investigator, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for investigation of safety-related trends and incidents in the rail, bus and marine industries in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport...
.
These agencies are part of the Department of Transport but are functionally independent and report to the relevant Ministers.
Governance
The Department of Transport was established in 2008 and assumed the transport portfolio responsibilities of the former Department of Infrastructure. The activities and powers of the Department of Transport are governed by both the portfolios of its Ministers, the Minister for Public Transport, the Minister for Roads, the Minister for Ports and by the Transport Integration ActTransport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
.
The Transport Integration Act
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
provides that the objects of the Department are to -
-
- "(a) ensure that a transport system is provided consistent with the vision statement and the transport system objectives;
- (b) determine strategic policies which specify priorities for the transport system that address current and future challenges;
- (c) ensure in collaboration with transport bodies and other bodies that policies and plans for an integrated and sustainable transport ::system are developed, aligned and implemented."
The Act provides that the "...principal function of the Department is to assist the Minister in the administration of this Act
and other transport legislation..." Other functions conferred on the Department include -
- leading in the improvement of the transport system, including the development and construction of new transport infrastructure and services
- developing strategies, plans, programs and projects relating to the transport system
- undertaking operational activities including transport system operations, asset management and project management
- collecting transport data and undertaking research into the transport system
- leading in strategic policy, advice and legislation functions and coordinating policy and legislation advice relating to the transport system.
The Act also provides the Secretary of the Department with a range of specific powers including the power to enter into any agreement or contract.
Particular responsibilities
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
imposes a range of responsibilities on the Department of Transport. These include -
- preparation of revisions to the Victorian Transport PlanVictorian Transport PlanThe Victorian Transport Plan is a now defunct transport planning framework for the state of Victoria, Australia announced on Monday 9 December 2008 by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby...
- coordination of agencies' corporate plans across the transport portfolios
- taking the lead in policy and legislation review including projects such as the Transport Legislation ReviewTransport Legislation ReviewThe Transport Legislation Review was a policy and legislation review project conducted by the Department of Transport in the State of Victoria, Australia between 2004 and 2010....
See also
- Transport Integration ActTransport Integration ActThe Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
- Rail Safety ActRail Safety ActThe Rail Safety Act 2006 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of rail operations in the State...
- Bus Safety ActBus Safety ActThe Bus Safety Act 2009 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of bus operations across the State....
- Accident Towing Services ActAccident Towing Services ActThe Accident Towing Services Act 2007 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime statute regulating the vehicle towing industry which provides towing and recovery services for light and heavy road vehicles across Victoria. It is predominately...
- Rail transport in VictoriaRail transport in VictoriaRail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
- Railways in MelbourneRailways in MelbourneThe Melbourne rail network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne under franchise from the Government of Victoria. The network is based on a commuter rail model centred on the Melbourne Central Business District and Flinders Street Station, rather than a rapid transit model, with a focus on...
- Road transport in Victoria
- Trams in MelbourneTrams in MelbourneThe Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
- Transport Act 1983Transport Act 1983The Transport Act 1983 was the main statute establishing government transport organisations and regulating land transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia for 27 years from mid 1983 to mid 2010...
- Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983The 'Transport Act 1983' is a prime statute regulating transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia...
- Tourist and Heritage Railways ActTourist and Heritage Railways ActThe Tourist and Heritage Railways Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the activities of tourist and heritage rail operators in the State...