Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:34): Victorian regulators gathered at the second Victorian Regulatory Reform Conference last week to explore what it takes to build a stronger regulatory system. With the theme ‘Strengthening the system’, the conference provided an opportunity to understand how their roles intersect and to share perspectives on emerging harms, AI and regulation, and information sharing.

It was a pleasure to address the conference on our government’s commitment to reform in this area and the results we have already delivered for our state. This work is important work, but it is not simple. Good regulation protects workers, consumers and the community and also protects legitimate businesses. Balancing business flexibility against the safeguards communities rightly expect demands rigorous evidence-based analysis. No shortcuts can be taken, and the results can only hold up because discipline is applied consistently.

I think it is important to share with the chamber some of the body of work that has already been completed. Heavy vehicle transport permits that once took six months and cost $10,000 now take 15 days and can cost under $100, a change that has saved the industry $10 million and eliminated more than 165,000 days of waiting since January this year. For the sparkies in the chamber, electrical safety certificates have moved from paper to online, to the digital world, saving more than 50,000 electricians in our state up to an hour each time they lodge. Simplified food safety requirements have cut red tape for almost 30,000 Victorian cafes, restaurants and food manufacturers, saving workers and employers up to two weeks in getting credentials processed. These gains compound across our economy. Together they make Victoria a faster, more competitive place to start and grow a business.

None of this is accidental. It flows directly from our Economic Growth Statement, which is focused on regulatory reform, on productivity and on efficiency and helps deliver our government commitment to halve the number of business regulators from 2030. We are also supporting similar initiatives across the board, including in partnership with local governments. The Business Acceleration Fund is providing more than $250 million in benefits to our economy, a lot of it through digitisation. This progress depends on people who make it happen, and that is why I want to take this opportunity to thank all our regulators for the difficult and challenging job they do. It is a balance that requires diligent work.