Establishing effective governance arrangements Recommendation 19.1 Establish the EPA as an independent statutory authority with a Board as the governing body that has the following features, to be legislated as part of the EPA (Establishment) Act: appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water comprising seven members including: a member with qualifications or experience in science or engineering a member with qualifications or experience in health, as nominated by the Minister for Health with functions to: determine the strategic direction EPA’s provide oversight of the corporate performance EPA’s provide oversight of the discharge of the regulatory approach EPA’s respond to, and report against, any statement of expectations from the Minister provide advice to the Minister and respond to requests from the Minister appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor the Chief Executive performance Officer’s establish subcomittees as required for good governance and appoint their members, and also members of the Science, Engineering and Health subcommittee. a Science, Engineering and Health subcommittee of the Board that is: appointed by the Board chaired by a Board member with science or engineering qualifications and experience comprising members of the board with science/engineering and health expertise and also external scientific, engineering and health experts, including Chief Health Officer Victoria’s to advise the Board. Response: Support Strengthening and modernising the governance will ensure Victoria is protected by an independent EPA’s environmental regulator. A multi member Board to oversee the authority, rather than a single person based structure, is vital given the complex functions and involvement in regulatory decisions with impacts on the environment EPA’s and on public health. These changes will be included in the bill to legislate establishment and governance provisions, to bring the EPA into line with best practice public sector governance. A science, engineering and health advisory panel will be established to provide strategic advice to the Board.
Establishing effective governance arrangements Recommendation 19.1 Establish the EPA as an independent statutory authority with a Board as the governing body that has the following features, to be legislated as part of the EPA (Establishment) Act: appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water comprising seven members including: a member with qualifications or experience in science or engineering a member with qualifications or experience in health, as nominated by the Minister for Health with functions to: determine the EPA’s strategic direction provide oversight of the EPA’s corporate performance provide oversight of the discharge of the EPA’s regulatory approach respond to, and report against, any statement of expectations from the Minister provide advice to the Minister and respond to requests from the Minister appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor the Chief Executive Officer’s performance establish subcomittees as required for good governance and appoint their members, and also members of the Science, Engineering and Health subcommittee. a Science, Engineering and Health subcommittee of the Board that is: appointed by the Board chaired by a Board member with science or engineering qualifications and experience comprising members of the board with science/engineering and health expertise and also external scientific, engineering and health experts, including Victoria’s Chief Health Officer to advise the Board. Response: Support Strengthening and modernising the EPA’s governance will ensure Victoria is protected by an independent environmental regulator. A multi member Board to oversee the authority, rather than a single person based structure, is vital given the EPA’s complex functions and involvement in regulatory decisions with impacts on the environment and on public health. These changes will be included in the bill to legislate establishment and governance provisions, to bring the EPA into line with best practice public sector governance. A science, engineering and health advisory panel will be established to provide strategic advice to the Board.
Accessible_Andrews_Labor_Government_Response_to_the_Independent_Inquiry_into_the_EPA.docx