If you have concerns about the way an authorised officer has behaved, you can make a complaint.
Our authorised officers investigate and check compliance with Victoria’s environmental laws. They can advise businesses and individuals on how to follow the law. They can also take action to prevent harm to human health or the environment.
We appoint authorised officers to investigate, monitor and support compliance with environmental laws. This includes:
- Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window)
- Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1986
- Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window).
Authorised officers perform their role by using the powers and functions granted and delegated to them under this legislation.
For more information about our authorised officer’s powers:
- to enter, inspect and make inquiries, visit Site inspections
- to give compliance advice and issue notices and directions, see Remedial powers policy.
Other appointments and delegations
We also appoint our staff as:
- persons who may take proceedings who can issue fines and take proceedings to court
- litter enforcement officers
- analysts.
We can also delegate powers in certain situations to:
- our staff
- other parties, such as local councils.
We do this when a person or body can help us fulfil our regulatory objectives.
This means that our staff with specialist skills have the power to make decisions, such as issuing permissions.
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