Regional Victoria is a significant contributor to Australia’s national and export economy.

In 2017–18, Victoria’s total food and fibre exports were worth $14.1 billion, ranking the state as Australia’s largest agriculture producer. During this period, Victorian grain exports were worth $1.5 billion.

Victoria also has large deposits of rutile and zircon mineral sands. All major mining and mineral sands processing operations stopped for these minerals in 2017 but may resume if market conditions become favourable.

In regional Victoria, the rail freight network transports commodities to national and export markets. Expected growth in global demand for Victoria’s agricultural produce, grains and mineral commodities will increase demand on this network.

This audit examines whether regional rail upgrades are improving rural freight outcomes in a timely and cost-efficient way. We reviewed two major regional rail upgrade programs:

Acronyms

Independent assurance report to Parliament

Ordered to be published

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER March 2020

PP No 117, Session 2018–20

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Annual Plan 2019–20 was prepared pursuant to the requirements of section 7A of the Audit Act 1994, and tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 27 June 2019.