What we do - our purpose
We design and deliver policies and programs that enable Victoria's primary and energy industries to sustainably maximise the wealth and wellbeing they generate, such as essential goods and services, employment, investment and recreational opportunities.
Our role is primarily economic, ensuring that human needs are met from the State's natural resources through mostly privately-owned industries operating in competitive and regulated markets. A focus on production and productivity is central to our work, with a complementary focus on public and employee safety, community resilience, animal welfare and the natural environment.
We work with a diverse group of stakeholders (below) across Victoria, as well as nationally and overseas. Our services are delivered through key areas of work encompassing innovative policy, world-class science and technology, leading-edge protection and regulation practices, and sustainable practice change.
Our strategies
Victoria's primary and energy industries are undergoing major changes, such as climate change and global competition. We are pursuing six strategies for 2008-11 that reflect these challenges and opportunities, and the context in which the department operates.
Develop a strategic policy framework - we are developing a comprehensive, integrated and long-term strategic policy framework to build the productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of Victoria's primary and energy industries.- Drive innovation in science, technology and practice - we fund important research, development, demonstration, commercialisation and practice-change that would not occur sufficiently if left fully to the private sector.
- Develop and operate efficient markets and regulatory frameworks - we allocate natural resources to their most productive uses, develop administered markets, enhance primary producers access to markets, and establish and oversee the regulation of primary and energy industries.
- Negotiate and facilitate major investments - we assist developers of large energy and earth resources projects to understand and comply with approvals processes. We also play a key role in delivering major public infrastructure investments that provide public benefits.
- Manage emergencies promptly and effectively - we advise and implement the Government's response to a wide range of emergencies, including biosecurity incursions, energy supply shortfalls and bushfire recovery. We also assist with bushfire response.
- Achieve excellence in corporate and business management - we provide high-quality and efficient business and corporate services to ensure the successful delivery of our strategies.
You can find more information about these strategies and our performance in the 2007-08 Annual Report.
Our stakeholders
We work with energy companies, research partners, primary producers, mineral explorers and rural communities across Victoria, as well as other government departments, to address the major and emerging challenges in sustainability and productivity.
- Food and agriculture industries, producers and other businesses
- Commercial, recreational and cultural fishing, and aquaculture sectors
- Energy industry bodies, producers, and network and retail businesses
- National and international science organisations and partnerships
- Extractive, mineral, geothermal and petroleum industry bodies, explorers, producers and their agencies
- Commercial forestry industry bodies and producers
- Local, national and international consumer, environmental and business organisations
- Catchment, land and water managers
- Industry-based research and development corporations
- Animal welfare groups
- Local, state, territory and Commonwealth governments, agencies, authorities and organisations as investors in DPI projects