Governance

Corporate policies

The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) formerly Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (CES) entered a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in 2017 (updated in 2021). The SLA formally documents the relationship between the DEECA and CES for the provision of corporate and financial services support.

The primary objective of the SLA is to ensure that corporate and financial services support are delivered by DEECA to CES efficiently and effectively, in a properly accountable manner, and in a way that meets the statutory obligations of both organisations.

The other objectives of the SLA are for it to ensure:

• clarity – it is vital to have clear arrangements between DEECA and CES that do not impinge on the Commissioner’s ability to independently exercise statutory obligations and decision-making; and
• efficiency – given the small size and budget of CES, it is important that it procures support for its operational activities in an efficient manner, to ensure its resources are targeted most effectively to achieving its statutory and regulatory objectives.

Both organisations commit to develop effective relationships to support the delivery of outcomes and outputs under the SLA.

To support these objectives, CES adopts DEECA operational policies and procedures in applicable cases to facilitate the use of common administrative systems, interoperability of staff and efficient processes at the lowest cost. The adoption of DEECA policies enables CES to meet governance obligations through broader Victorian Government corporate policy requirements. Such policies include:  

1. Accounts Payable Expense Reimbursement (personal expense) Policy;
2. Conflict of Interest Policy;
3. Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy; and
4. Travel Policy.