User:Declan Palmer/Department of Transport

Department of Transport (Victoria, Australia)

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."

Ministerial portfolios
The Department of Transport supports two Ministerial portfolios, the Minister for Roads and Ports and the Minister for Public Transport. It also supports two Parliamentary Secretaries, one in each Ministerial portfolio.

Agencies
DOT oversees and coordinates the activities of the state agencies responsible for the transport system in Victoria. 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 -
 * heavy and light rail systems including trains and trams
 * roads systems and vehicles including cars, trucks and bicycles
 * ports and waterways including commercial ships and recreational vessels
 * some air transport systems.

Statutory offices
The statutory offices include -
 * the Director of Public Transport
 * 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 statutory authorities are -
 * the Roads Corporation (VicRoads)
 * Victorian Rail Track (VicTrack)
 * V/Line Corporation (V/Line)
 * the Linking Melbourne Authority
 * the Port of Melbourne 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 Safety (Transport Safety Victoria)
 * the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety.

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 Roads and Ports and the Minister for Public Transport, and by the Transport Integration Act.

The Transport Integration Act 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
The Transport Integration Act imposes a range of resonsibilities on the Department of Transport. These include -
 * preparation of revisions to the Victorian Transport Plan
 * coordination of corporate plans across the transport portfolios