Thought Leadership
As Victoria enters caretaker on 3 November, major government decisions stall - creating real commercial, operational and reputational risk for any organisation working with government. Now is the time to prepare.
11 August 2026 - GovernmentPolicyStrategy
The clock is ticking and 3 November is the deadline. At 6.00pm, Victoria enters caretaker. Government continues. Major decisions will not.
During caretaker, the government cannot make major policy decisions, significant appointments, or enter into major contracts or commitments that could bind an incoming government. Public servants must also take extra care to remain - and be seen to remain - politically neutral.
For any business or organisation working with government, caretaker has real consequences.
A decision that looks close in October may not land before the election. A tender may continue, but with less certainty. A major announcement may be delayed. A ministerial meeting may be cancelled due to campaigning commitments.
The closer Victoria gets to caretaker, the harder it will be for business and your organisation to secure decisions.
This is the time to identify every point where your organisation depends on the Victorian Government. This includes:
At Stratagem, we encourage you to ask three practical questions.
What needs to happen before 3 November?
What can still progress during caretaker?
What changes if there is a new government, a new minister or a different policy direction?
These are not just government relations questions. They are commercial, operational and reputational questions.
A delayed approval can affect investment timing. A paused procurement process can affect your revenue. A poorly timed announcement can create unnecessary political risk. A change of government will shift procurement priorities, local jobs expectations, regulatory settings and stakeholder relationships.
Organisations should not wait until after the election to introduce themselves to the Opposition.
Now is the time to build credible relationships with relevant Shadow Ministers and advisers. Your election readiness is not about backing one side or the other. It is about ensuring your organisation is understood by every party that could influence its future.
During caretaker, departments also prepare parallel Incoming Government Briefs - commonly known by insiders as the red book for a Labor government and the blue book for a Coalition government. These briefs set out immediate decisions, key risks, policy priorities and issues requiring attention from whichever party forms government.
For business, this matters because issues raised in those briefs can shape the first decisions of a returned or incoming government.
Organisations should be thinking now about how their projects, risks and policy priorities may be viewed through that transition process, and what information decision-makers will need from day one.
The formal caretaker period begins in November, but its impact will be felt earlier.
Ministerial offices and departments are already trying to manage crowded agendas, Cabinet deadlines, and election commitments and sensitivities. Your organisation should not assume they have until November. Your strongest approach is to move now, secure what can be secured, and prepare for every credible election outcome.
Stratagem helps businesses and organisations prepare for the political and commercial uncertainty that comes with elections and changes of government.
We work to:
Our advice is practical, senior-led and grounded in how government works. We help clients understand where decisions are sitting, who they need to engage and what they need to do next.
Caretaker starts in November. The window to prepare and to engage the Opposition is now.
Contact Stratagem Corporate Advisory to build a clear pre-election, caretaker and post-election strategy.
Originally published on LinkedIn, 11 August 2026.