View source for Victoria State Government

{{Short description|Executive government of the state of Victoria, Australia}}
{{About|the executive government of the state of Victoria|the political structure of Victoria|Politics of Victoria}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox executive government
 | border = state
 | image = Victoria State Government logo.svg
 | image_size = 150px
 | caption = Logo
 | date = {{bulleted list|{{start date and age|1851|07|01|df=yes}} as a [[responsible government|responsible colonial government]]|{{start date and age|1901|01|01|df=yes}} as an [[States and territories of Australia|Australian state]]}}
 | state = [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]
 | country = [[Australia]]
 | leader_title = [[Premier of Victoria]] ([[Jacinta Allan]])
 | appointed = [[Governor of Victoria]] ([[Margaret Gardner]])<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Vic|act|ca1975188|Constitution Act 1975|50}}</ref> on the [[Advice (constitutional law)|advice]] of the premier
 | main_organ = {{Plainlist|
* [[Executive Council of Victoria]] (''[[de jure]]'')
* [[Allan Ministry|Cabinet of Victoria]] (''[[de facto]]'')
}}
 | ministries = [[List of Victorian government agencies|10 government departments]]
 | responsible = [[Parliament of Victoria]]
 | budget = $111.7 billion (2023-2024)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Victorian Government|date=June 2023|title=Victorian Budget 2023/24: Budget Strategy and Outlook - Budget Paper no. 2|url=https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/budgetfiles202324.budget.vic.gov.au/2023-24+State+Budget+-+Strategy+and+Outlook.pdf|access-date=8 February 2024|archive-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116192508/http://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/budgetfiles202324.budget.vic.gov.au/2023-24+State+Budget+-+Strategy+and+Outlook.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | address = [[1 Treasury Place]]
 | url = {{URL|vic.gov.au}}
 }}

The '''Victoria State Government''', also referred to as the '''Victorian Government''', is the [[Executive (government)|executive government]] of the [[Australian state]] of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].

==History ==
The first government of Victoria was  formed on 1 July 1851 when the [[Port Phillip District]] separated from the [[colony of New South Wales]], becoming a separate colony, the [[colony of Victoria]]. The first Legislative Council of the new government met on 11 November 1851, and proceeded to draft a Constitution of Victoria, approve the world's first secret ballot for elections, and build [[Parliament House, Melbourne|Parliament House]] in [[Melbourne]]. After the Constitution was approved by [[Queen Victoria]], [[responsible government|responsible self-government]] in Victoria began on 23 November 1855.<ref name="povfactsheet">{{cite web|date=25 February 2015|title=Fact Sheet: Victoria's Parliamentary History|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly/publications-a-research/fact-sheets/2462-fact-sheet-i1#victoria%20becomes%20self%20%20%20governing|access-date=21 March 2019|website=Parliament of Victoria|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214102310/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly/publications-a-research/fact-sheets/2462-fact-sheet-i1#victoria%20becomes%20self%20%20%20governing|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

On 1 January 1901 Victoria became a [[States and territories of Australia|state]] in the newly formed [[Commonwealth of Australia]], and responsibilities were divided between the [[Australian Government|Commonwealth (federal) government]] and the state government. National services such as defence, telephone, and postal services came under the federal government, while the Victorian Parliament remained responsible for police and education.<ref name="povfactsheet"/>

==Structure and functions==
The [[Constitution of Australia]] regulates the relationship between the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth level of government, and cedes legislative and judicial supremacy to the federal government on conflicting matters.<ref name ="australiaconstitution">{{cite act | type = Act| date = 1900| title = Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act| url = https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013Q00005}}</ref>

The Victoria State Government enforces [[Act of Parliament|acts]] passed by the parliament through government departments, [[Statutory body|statutory authorities]], and other public agencies. Legislation is introduced, debated, an passed or amended in the democratically-elected [[Parliament of Victoria]], which comprises the [[Victorian Legislative Council]] ([[upper house]]) and [[Victorian Legislative Assembly]] ([[lower house]]).

The government is formally presided over by the [[Governor of Victoria]], who exercises executive authority granted by the [[Constitution of Victoria|state's constitution]] through the Executive Council, a body consisting of senior cabinet [[Minister (government)|ministers]]. In reality, both the governor and the Executive Council are largely ceremonial, with the [[Premier of Victoria|premier]] and ministers having control over policy, appointments, and other executive orders made by the governor.<ref name ="vicconstitution">{{cite act | type = Act| date = 1975| title = Constitution Act| url = http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt1.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/E9AF39B1A5312645CA257761001C82E7/$FILE/75-8750a195.pdf }}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2025}} 

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.{{cn|date=September 2025}}

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 [[Confidence and supply|command the support]] of a majority of members of the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]. The Cabinet is the de facto chief policy making organ and consists of the premier and all ministers.{{cn|date=September 2025}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Victoria|Government}}
* [[Allan ministry (2023)|The Allan Ministry]], the current Cabinet formation
* [[First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria]], an independent elected body for negotiating treaties between the State and First Nations of Victoria
* [[List of Victorian government agencies]]
* [[Local government areas of Victoria]]
* [[Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities]] (2006)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Government of Victoria, Australia}}
* {{Official website|https://www.vic.gov.au}}
* [https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/constitution-act-1975/224 The Constitution of Victoria]

{{Government of Victoria}}
{{Victoria}}
{{Politics of Australia}}
{{Government of Australia by state}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Victoria State Government|*]]