| Nativename: | Government of the State of Victoria |
| Border: | state |
| Leader Title: | Premier of Victoria (Jacinta Allan) |
| Appointed: | Governor of Victoria (Margaret Gardner) on behalf of the King (Charles III) |
| Budget: | $111.7 billion (2023-2024)[1] |
The Government of Victoria, also referred to as the Victorian Government, is the executive branch of the Australian state of Victoria. The executive is one of three independent branches, alongside the judicial, and the legislative.
As a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, the State Government was first formed in 1851 when Victoria first gained the right to responsible government. The Constitution of Australia regulates the relationship between the Victorian Government and the Australian Government, and cedes legislative and judicial supremacy to the federal government on conflicting matters.[2] [3]
The Victoria State Government enforces acts passed by the parliament through government departments, statutory authorities, and other public agencies. The Government is formally presided over by the Governor, who exercises executive authority granted by the state's constitution through the Executive Council, a body consisting of senior cabinet ministers. In reality, both the governor and the Executive Council are largely ceremonial, with the premier and ministers having control over policy, appointments, and other executive orders made by the Governor.[4]
The Government of Victoria operates under the principles of the Westminster system as adapted in the Australian Constitution and of responsible government. Both systems and principles of governance have developed out of the United Kingdom, to which Victoria was previously a colony.
Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the governor and senior ministers. In practice, executive power is exercised by the premier, appointed by the governor, provided they can command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. The Cabinet is the de facto chief policy making organ and consists of the premier and all ministers.
See main article: Parliament of Victoria. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Victoria, which consists of King Charles III, represented by the Governor of Victoria, and the two Houses, the Victorian Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Victorian Legislative Assembly (the lower house).
See main article: Supreme Court of Victoria. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Victoria and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.