The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC or the department) makes information publicly available on this website, and in printed material available for viewing or purchase.
We make as much information publicly available as possible, reducing the need for members of the public to request access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act).
The statements below are a statutory requirement under the FOI Act. The purpose of the statement is to:
- provide a snapshot of the types of information and documents that the department holds
- outline how to access this information and locate publicly available information
- inform the public how to make a request for access under the FOI Act
For more information contact us.
For more information about Freedom of Information in Victoria, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s website.
Information statements
As the leader of the Victorian Public Service, the Department of Premier and Cabinet coordinates the delivery of the government’s agenda and works across government to promote public interest and create public value. DPC supports the Victorian Government’s commitment to a stronger, fairer, better Victoria by pursuing excellence in whole of Victorian Government services delivery and reform. The two central responsibilities of DPC are to advise the government on emerging policy issues and to review the impact of government decisions.
DPC supports the following ministers:
- the Premier as head of the Victorian Government and Cabinet
- the Deputy Premier
- the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
The department also has the responsibility of managing issues that affect the government as a whole.
DPC is comprised of eight main groups that advise and support the functioning of government.
Legal, Legislation and Governance (LLG)
The LLG Group is comprised of two Branches: Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and Governance. The Branches work together to deliver legal, legislation and governance expertise to the Premier and relevant Ministers. OGC provides legal and policy advice, including in the areas of administrative, constitutional, and corporate law. OGC’s policy work primarily focuses upon the public sector, the electoral system and subordinate legislation. OGC also supports DPC in developing legislative and regulatory proposals. The Freedom of Information team sits within OGC.
The Governance Branch promotes good governance and public administration, high quality decision and policymaking, government integrity and accountability, and trust in public institutions.
Cabinet, Communications and Corporate
The Cabinet, Communications and Corporate (CCC) Group provides services and broad advice to support robust public administration and promote DPC’s role as the First Minister’s department. CCC provides timely and practical guidance on the operation of Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and the Executive Council. CCC operates to support DPC to meet integrity, financial accountability and institutional governance obligations to parliament and ministers. Through the Strategic Communications, Engagement and Protocol Branch, CCC provides specialist communication, event and protocol advice across government. Corporate Services provide operational support to DPC and its entities through finance, operations, people and culture and procurement services and assistance.
Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
The Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Group combines social policy expertise with coordination of the State’s intergovernmental relations. The group provides policy advice on the following portfolios: health; mental health; education; justice; community security and emergency management; and families fairness and housing. The Group also leads oversight and the coordination of intergovernmental advice, COVID-19 pandemic response efforts and the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. It also supports the Office of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor.
Economic Policy and State Productivity Group
The Economic Policy and State Productivity Group leads economic policy advice to the Premier and Cabinet. The group works in collaboration with relevant departments and agencies to ensure a coordinated Whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) approach to policy and projects in the areas of: economic development and recovery; fiscal strategy; regional and suburban development; local government outcomes; regulatory reform; consumer affairs; gambling; racing; major events; workplace safety; international engagement; infrastructure; planning; precincts; transport; energy; agriculture; resources; and the environment.
First Peoples – State Relations
The First Peoples – State Relations group is responsible for an extensive program of nation-leading work in the areas of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth with First Peoples. The Group recognises Victoria’s First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria and is committed to building ongoing, just and respectful relationships between self-determining First Peoples and the State. The group is also committed to promoting Aboriginal leadership and cultural heritage management.
Resource locations
- DPC’s portfolios, entities and agencies.
- To see the Acts of Victorian Legislation that are administered by or are relevant to DPC, visit Appendix 6 of the 2020-21 Annual Report.
- To see the key structures and functions of the department, see DPC’s organisational chart.
- To see the key projects and initiatives that DPC will lead in supporting the government in addressing the most complex and whole-of-government challenges, see the Corporate Plan for 2019-2023.
- DPC is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. DPC’s cultural diversity and inclusion strategy outlines key messaging and commitments.
- To see more information on the department’s budget and procurement processes, visit the budget and procurement process section.
The department produces many documents in the course of its work. The types of documents that DPC handles include:
- policy, procedures and standards:
- administrative materials – corporate/operational, boards, committees
- applications and licenses (Local Government Inspectorate & Labour Hire Authority)
- compliance materials – reports, responses
- instructional materials – standards, policies, procedures, guidelines
- program materials – initiation, operations, evaluation
- project materials – initiation, governance, management
- training and educational material
- briefings and reports:
- for example, briefs to relevant Ministers, the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries
- case files
- registers:
- compliance and operational
- correspondence:
- corporate and Ministerial
- emails or letters
- meeting records:
- meeting minutes and agendas
- financial records:
- grants
- remuneration and salaries
- procurement materials – tenders, Expressions of Interest, contracts
- human resource management:
- recruitment, payroll, employee records, HR data/statistics
- audio-visual material
Documents held by the department are organised under categories according to the department’s Business Classification Scheme:
- community relations (includes the function of Grant Funding)
- corporate support (incorporates functions such as Financial Management, Office and Facilities Management, Human Resource Management, Information and Knowledge Management, Governance, Strategic Management and Technology and Telecommunications)
- cultural support and development
- executive government process support
- government communications (WoVG)
- government relations
- industrial relations
- legal services
- marketing and communications
- portfolio policy advice
- protocol and events
- strategic initiatives (WoVG)
- WoVG co-ordination
This sitemap shows areas of work that DPC is engaged in and where documents are created.
For other information that is available on request, please see the 'Freedom of Information Act' section of the 2020-21 Annual Report.
If you are searching for a specific topic, contact us.
- policy, procedures and standards:
Under the FOI Act, all members of the public have the right to request documents held and produced by Victorian Government departments and agencies, subject to certain exceptions and exemptions. For more information about what agencies you can request documents from under the FOI Act, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s (OVIC) website.
How to make an FOI request to DPC
To make a valid request for access to documents held by DPC, the request must:
- be in writing
- describe the documents to which you are seeking access as clearly and specifically as possible (please note the categories of documents above; it may be useful to refer to the type of document being sought, to ensure accuracy and completeness of information)
- be accompanied an application fee of $30.10 or evidence that paying the application fee would cause you hardship (for example, a scanned copy of a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card)
Section 25A of the Act allows an agency to refuse access to documents on the grounds that fulfilling the request would be ‘too voluminous.’ This arises where the work involved in processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its other operations. To avoid an agency invoking section 25A, it can be useful to include a date range, to specify the categories of documents (as discussed above) and to be as specific as possible.
If you are requesting documents about your personal affairs information, photo identification should be provided.
A request for access to information can be made online or via post to the following address:
Freedom of Information Officer
Department of Premier and Cabinet
GPO Box 4912
Melbourne VIC 3001Or via email at foidpc@dpc.vic.gov.au
DPC has been appointed to process requests made under the Act on behalf of the Office of the Premier.
Once DPC FOI has received the request, it will be assessed for validity under section 17 of the FOI Act and any other relevant sections. In reaching a decision, DPC is obliged to consider the relevant exemptions that may apply under the legislation. These are primarily located in Part IV of the Act in sections 28 to 38.
Access charges may apply to the search, photocopying, retrieval and creation of documents. DPC FOI will inform you of any access charges that may apply to your request and consult with you in this regard.
Where the document requested is subject to an exemption, either in full or in part, an accompanying decision letter will be provided to explain the reason for exemption.
OVIC is an independent regulator with combined oversight of information access, information privacy, and data protection. If you wish to seek more information about Freedom of Information in Victoria, or wish to make a complaint, or seek a review of an FOI decision visit OVIC’s website.
DPC’s publications can be accessed through the following links:
- Current strategies and policies
- Victorian government datasets
- Advertising and government communications
Key policy spaces that DPC focuses on include:
- Supporting the government’s response to COVID-19
- Data insights to power better decisions
- Cybersecurity to prevent attacks
- Modernising systems to improve government productivity
- Fostering innovation
- Building safer and more resilient communities
- Supporting and implementing findings of Royal Commissions
- Modernising the youth justice system
- Supporting family violence reform
- Skills and training
- Providing economic advice on current and future challenges or opportunities
- Supporting industry capability and growth
- Supporting the rollout of three-year-old kindergarten
- Supporting the health system to prepare for COVID-19 scenarios
- Leading Victoria’s international engagement
- Supporting delivery of the government’s infrastructure program
- Designing and establishing new ways of working with communities
- Promoting affordable, reliable and secure energy
- Creating digital systems for contact tracing
- Developing Engage Victoria
- Collaborating with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect
- Promoting fair and equitable workplaces
There are rules, policies and procedures in place to govern the daily operations of the department, for example:
- Manuals of procedure,
- Interpretations of governing statutes,
- Statements of policies and documents concerning method of enforcing acts or schemes.
If you are searching for a specific topic, you can search this website, visit the site map or contact us.
For information on our privacy policy, see the Privacy Statement.
For information about how to make a complaint about DPC, see the protected disclosure policy.
Updated