3. Other Tribunal matters

3.1 Tribunal meetings

The Tribunal held 25 regular meetings and no special meetings in 2024–25.

Minutes were kept for each meeting. There were eight disclosures of an interest by a Tribunal Member recorded in the minutes of a Tribunal meeting (VIRTIPS Act, ss. 12 and 14(4)).

• On 27 July 2024, Chair McCann advised he had been appointed as Chair of the Judicial Entitlements Panel.
• On 8 August 2024, Member Wilson confirmed his roles as Chair of the Transport Accident Commission and Chair of the Melbourne Water Corporation.
• On 22 August 2024, Member Wilson noted that the Victorian Funds Management Corporation manages investments for the Transport Accident Commission.
• On 3 October 2024, Member Wilson advised that he is undertaking a review into Victorian Government bodies’ engagement with construction companies and construction unions, which involves engagement with the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority.
• On 28 November 2024, Member Gardner informed the Tribunal she had left the Audit Committee of Energy Safe Victoria.
• On 12 December 2024, Member Gardner advised that she would no longer be a member of the Victorian Planning Authority’s board.
• On 15 May 2025, Member Wilson advised that he had been engaged by the Commissioner of Fire Rescue Victoria to provide advice on an ad hoc basis, including on leadership team structure and other organisational matters.
• On 16 June 2025, Member Gardner confirmed out of session that she is on the Remuneration Committee at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

3.2 Finance

Section 45 of the Financial Management Act 1994 (Vic) (FMA) requires the Tribunal to prepare a report of operations and financial statements for each financial year. However, in accordance with a determination made by the Minister under section 53(1)(b) of the FMA, the Tribunal’s report of operations and financial statements is consolidated with the annual report of the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Under section 8(3)(d) of the FMA, and Standing Direction 1.5, the Minister for Finance has also exempted the Tribunal from the requirements of the Standing Directions.

While the exemption has been provided on an ongoing basis, it is subject to the Tribunal confirming with the Executive Director, Budget Strategy, Department of Treasury and Finance, prior to the end of May each year, that:

• the Tribunal has established and maintained alternative arrangements to ensure that no aspect of financial governance is compromised
• there has not been any significant change to the Tribunal’s risk profile and functions
• there has not been any key audit finding that might suggest deficiencies in the Tribunal’s financial management and internal control systems.

The Tribunal Chair, as the Accountable Officer for the Tribunal, provided this confirmation for the 2024–25 financial year.

3.3 Freedom of information requests

The Tribunal did not receive any freedom of information requests in 2024–25.