Enforcement Matters

Russell Kennedy operates one of Victoria’s largest and most experienced compliance and enforcement legal teams.

We advise over 50 local councils in Victoria, as well as many statutory authorities. We consistently achieve great results for our clients, dealing with breaches in relation to building, planning and environment, water law, public health, food, parking, road management, domestic animals and local laws.

Every day we also work with government agencies and regulatory authorities, at the state and national levels.

Some of our clients include Ahpra and its 15 national health practitioner boards; Architects Registration Board of Victoria; Victorian Disability Worker Commission; Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner; Greyhound Racing Victoria; Portable Long Service Leave Authority; Judicial Commission of Victoria; and Labour Hire Authority.

We specialise in investigations, prosecutions, enforcement hearings, disciplinary hearings and reviews of administrative decisions (merits and judicial review).
We advise government clients on the exercise of their powers, including interviewing, exercising powers of entry (with or without consent) and coercive powers. We understand not only how to interpret legislation, but also how exercising powers works in practice.We advise regulators on good administrative decision-making and have an excellent understanding of procedural fairness in the regulatory context.
We provide practical training and seminars to our clients’ personnel.
We often prepare handbooks, guidelines, template documents and scripts for our regulatory clients.
Our lawyers represent clients in various courts and tribunals including VCAT, the Magistrates’ Court and County Court.

To follow are interesting examples of some recent matters.

Your Russell Kennedy key contacts

Daniel Silfo

Team member title
- Principal
Team member contact no
- +61 3 9609 1506
Team member email
- dsilfo@rk.com.au

Daniel has over a decade of experience in providing legal services to Local Government. Daniel has ...

This edition includes the following matters

Court Imposes Fine, Costs, Disqualification and Compensation After Fatal Dog Attack

$60,000.00 Court Penalty for Illegal Building Work in Council Prosecution

From Inspection to Prosecution: How 155 Food Safety Breaches Led a Pizza Shop to Court

Groundworks Café – investigation into ongoing non-compliance lays the groundwork for a significant penalty

Planning Enforcement: Owner of land fined for tree being poisoned on their land

Harnessing the teasing Defence – Domestic Animals Act

Fee and Penalty Units to Increase from 1 July 2025

Tropical Kingdom – a rodent paradise not under temperature control

Decision of a Magistrate to Destroy a Dog Appealed to the County Court

Discretion under Part 8 of the Building Act 1993 (Vic): The Limits of the Building Appeals Board’s Jurisdictional Authority

Swimming Pool and Spa Enforcement Update and Limitation Period for 1 June 2022 Certificates

Sovereign Citizen loses County Court Appeal

Environmental Consultant Fined for Breaches of the Water Act 1989 (Vic)

Injunction to ‘Stop the Music’ under the Environment Protection Act 2017

Recommended Amendments to the Building Regulations Regarding Swimming Pool and Spa Related Offences

Building Appeals Board Upholds the General Rule that Each Party Bears its Own Costs

Fee and Penalty Units to Increase from 1 July 2024

VCAT Confirms Restricted Breed Dog Standard in Victoria is Unworkable

Swimming Pool and Spa Enforcement

No Building Permit for Multi-Level Extension

Compliance and Enforcement Team