2024 Victorian Regulators Conference Summary and Insights

The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) is pleased to share this summary of the inaugural Victorian Regulators Conference – Partnering for Progress, held on Wednesday 27 November 2024. Thank you to the speakers, panellists, and attendees who contributed to its success.

Hosted by DTF’s Regulatory Reform team, the conference brought together over 120 senior leaders and policy-makers from most Victorian regulators. It provided a valuable forum for discussions on regulatory excellence, innovative solutions, and strengthening collaboration. By fostering these connections, the event contributed to the broader dialogue and partnership needed to address shared challenges and drive impactful reform in Victoria.

The conference is part of DTF’s ongoing engagement with regulators. These insights provide our reflections on the event and our call for ongoing collaboration.

View the full conference program:

On this page

• Key highlights
• Feedback on the event
• Engagement with us and next steps

Key highlights

Opening address

The then Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Danny Pearson MP, and DTF Deputy Secretary of the Economic Division, Paul Donegan, set the stage for the event with inspiring opening addresses, outlining the Government’s vision for regulatory reform. Key points included:

• Encouraging collaboration and shared learning among regulators to drive better outcomes.
• Highlighting reform opportunities, such as digitisation, omnibus bills, and the Business Acceleration Fund (BAF) that help deliver benefits for business and regulators.
• Stressing the importance of regulatory consistency and innovation to foster economic growth.

Their addresses emphasised the shared responsibility of all Victorian regulators in supporting the Victorian economy, as well as protecting the Victorian community and environment.

Key highlights from other sessions throughout the day:

• Business challenges and opportunities: A ‘sludge audit’ in hospitality licensing revealed 146 steps in processes, underscoring the need to simplify government interactions for businesses. This presentation was followed by a panel discussion with the Small Business Commissioner, Lynda McAlary-Smith, and Paul Guerra from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Panellists discussed how regulators can foster trust, provide clear guidance, and reduce burdens on businesses.

• Excellence in regulation: This session provided a deep dive into the opportunities and challenges of organisational transformation with senior leaders on the panel, including Anna Cronin (Victorian Building Authority), Sarah Court (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) and Robert Hortle (Wage Inspectorate Victoria). Panellists discussed the importance of community trust, leadership in reform, and keeping consumers at the heart of regulatory efforts. Practical tools like guidance materials and timely legislative advice were also emphasised.
• DTF and DGS showcase: Attendees were presented with rapid showcase of current reform projects from DTF and the Department of Government Services (DGS). During the lunch hour, attendees were able to visit 'discovery stations' showcasing multiple initiatives, including the AI Assurance Framework, digitisation and RegTech, BAF, and the newly launched Council and Regulator Toolkit, all aimed at supporting regulators to streamline regulatory practices and enhance service delivery.

• Future-focused regulation: Keynote speaker Rob Warner from Maritime New Zealand gave a thought-provoking presentation on the future of regulators - including the trends and practices that will influence the regulators of tomorrow. The keynote address encouraged regulators to consider emerging trends and positioning themselves to respond by leveraging systems thinking. Rob prompted attendees to ask ‘What? So What? and Now What?’ and applied this to three key trends - demographics, digitisation and decarbonisation. He also highlighted tools and practices that can help regulators navigate an uncertain future landscape.

• Embracing technology: This highly engaging panel with Cressida Wall (Economic Growth and Better Regulation Victoria) and Dr. Stephen King (Productivity Commission) discussed how digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and data could be an enabler of productivity and improved regulatory outcomes. AI and new technologies can make it easier for regulatory bodies, but it is crucial to still have a human at the centre of regulatory processes. Three tips that will help expedite the use of new technologies in government are reverse mentoring where junior staff mentor senior staff, utilising private sector knowledge, and enabling executives and team to experiment with technologies.

Conference feedback

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Key survey results included:

• 83% found the event valuable for networking opportunities.
• 76% agreed the content was relevant and insightful.
• 89% expressed interest in attending similar events in the future.

Comments from attendees:

• “Great opportunity to share best practice, lots of inspired regulators in the room.”
• “Panel discussions were very insightful. Excellent choice of panel members.”
• Rob Warner's session was really thought provoking in terms of our strategy. Would have loved more time to get into more details.”
• “We are all dealing with very similar problems.”
• “Wonderful event and such a great opportunity to meet regulatory counterparts.”

Networking opportunities and interactive formats were also appreciated, as were the engaging speakers and practical insights shared throughout the event.

Engage with us and next steps

DTF is committed to fostering ongoing collaboration and regulatory innovation. For more information on our programs or to get involved, contact us at reg.reform@dtf.vic.gov.au.