More than 40 new government bodies have been created since Labor came to power in Victoria, as the latest budget shows a continued rise in public employee costs.
An AAP tally of Andrews Labor government media releases since early 2015 has found 49 authorities, offices, commissions, boards and councils established to oversee individual projects - several within the infrastructure space.
Senior politics lecturer at Deakin University, Geoffrey Robinson, said while creating separate agencies signals a project is important, it also risks "silo-isation".
"It would be worth reviewing, there's a danger of doubling up and duplicating," Dr Robinson said.
"It can potentially make coordination difficult."
Infrastructure agencies include the Level Crossing Removal Authority, Melbourne Metro Rail Authority (which was recently changed to Rail Projects Victoria), and a new Regional Roads Victoria announced as part of Tuesday's budget, funded to the tune of $17.4 million.
At least two new agencies have been created to tackle family violence and other work in health, regional development and the environment.
There are now 238,000 people employed by the state government.
The budget revealed the public service will cost $25.5 billion in the 2018/19 financial year and is forecast to grow to $28.2 billion by 2021/22.
The government has defended the proliferation.
"We make no apology for setting up dedicated authorities with the expertise to oversee the delivery of the biggest pipeline of infrastructure projects in Victoria's history and to deliver ground breaking reforms to end family violence," a spokeswoman said in a statement.
In 2016/17 there was a massive increase in frontline staff, including about 3000 public health workers, 1500 teachers and school staff and 1000 police and emergency services staff.
"This is a government that invests in the things that matter to Victorians -- that means more nurses, more teachers, more firefighters, and more police," she said.
But shadow treasurer, Michael O'Brien said if the opposition win government in November, the public service will be reviewed.
"You have all these authorities tripping over themselves," he told AAP.
"All these authorities have got quite highly-paid executives in them and there seems to be a lack of understanding as to who's actually responsible for what."
NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BODIES
Level Crossing Removal Authority - created February 2015
Melbourne Metro Rail Authority - February 2015
Major Transport Infrastructure Board - April 2015
Infrastructure Victoria - June 2015
Western Distributor Authority - April 2016
Victorian School Building Authority - April 2016
Transport for Victoria - June 2016
Office of Projects Victoria - September 2016
Active Transport Victoria - October 2016
North East Link Authority - December 2016
Development Victoria - April 2017
Emergency Services Infrastructure Authority - May 2017
Regional Roads Victoria - April 2018
