Machinery of Government
The expression "Machinery of Government" has long been used to refer to the allocation and reallocation of functions between departments and Ministers. In Victoria, Machinery of Government matters are the sole responsibility of the Premier. The Legal Branch of DPC prepares the necessary documents.
- General Order
The Premier allocates Acts of Parliament to Ministers by issuing a General Order, or a "Supplement" amending the most recent General Order.
- Public Administration Act 2004 (PAA) Orders
Departments are created, abolished and altered by Order in Council under the Public Administration Act 2004. Staff can be transferred between departments by declaration of the relevant Minister.
- Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs)
Following machinery of government changes, references in Acts to specific persons, officers or agencies can be required to be read differently if necessary, under the Administrative Arrangements Act 1983.
Staying up to date
You can find out about current Machinery of Government arrangements by:
Consolidated General Order and Supplements.
The General Order allocates responsibility for administration of Acts of Parliament to Ministers. These are usually published after each election, and when large-scale changes are to be made. Following publication of a General Order, a "Supplement" may be used to amend it from time to time.
The General Order is the guiding document for defining who is "the Minister" for the purpose of each piece of legislation, and the Ministerial powers and responsibilities therein. The exception is where a Minister is specifically defined in legislation (eg "the Treasurer") - see AAOs.
Some Acts are not allocated under the General Order, where it is not necessary to do so, including private acts and spent legislation. Acts can also be shared between Ministers.
This website contains downloadable copies of current
General Orders and
Supplements, as well as a consolidated list of all acts currently administered by each Minister's
Portfolio.
Example of a Supplement to the General Order:
Departments and functions
Departments are created, abolished and altered by Order in Council under the Public Administration Act 2004 (PAA). The PAA also allows for the transfer of staff and work units between departments by a declaration of the Public Employment Minister (currently the Premier).
The relationship of Ministers to Departments is governed by convention and convenience according to the Acts for which each Minister is responsible.
Statute Law Revisions through Administrative Arrangement Orders
Acts can include references to Departments, Ministers and other officers by title which become incorrect when Machinery of Government changes are made. In order to address this problem, the Governor in Council may make "Administrative Arrangements Orders" (AAOs), under the Administrative Arrangements Act 1983.
AAOs do not change the original references as such, but require that they be read as new references. For example if there is a reference in an Act to the Minister for Prisons and that Act is transferred to the Minister for Police, an AAO can be made that means that the reference to the Minister for Prisons in that Act is to be read as the Minister for Police.
Periodically these changes are codified by Statute Law Reform Acts, and the references are formally amended.
Example of an AAO:
