Occupational health and safety in local government - decisions on the management of risk

Victorian local government reform has occurred in two waves. In the first wave, which focused on the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering and performance management, there was a rapid growth of outsourcing. The second wave of reform under the label of Best Value qualifies the pressures to outsource but retains the focus on performance management. In this paper we explore the management of risk in the contractual environment which now characterises local government. We do so by concentrating on one risk exposed area (outdoor space) across two contracts.