State Coalition leaves options open to altering the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

SOME wags in Spring Street call it the ‘Department of Name Changes.’ Others referred to it as the ‘Department of Earth, Wind and Fire.’

Name changes: National Party leader Peter Walsh says all government departments need to deliver the services regional Victorians want and need. Picture: Chloe Smith

SOME in Spring Street call it the “Department of Name Changes”, while others refer to it as the “Department of Earth, Wind and Fire”.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning was established only a week after the Andrews Government came to power in 2014, a move not flagged during the election campaign.

The Coalition has left the door open to another office ­reshuffle if it wins power at the November poll.

“We need to make sure all government departments are delivering the services regional Victorians want and need,” National Party state leader Peter Walsh said.

“Daniel Andrews’ government has ignored regional communities and undermined vital industries like forestry in order to keep his Greens mates on side.”

Most public servants were in the dark when the ­Coalition announced the former Department of Sustainability and ­Environment and the Department of Primary Industries would merge to become DEPI in 2013.

Labor folded agriculture into a “super department”, the Department of Economic ­Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, with conservation matters forming part of DELWP.