2 May 2022
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 2 May 2022
Cabinet date: 2 May 2022
Government Response to Standing Committee Planning, Transport and City Services - Report 9 - Inquiry into the Impact of revised speed limits in Civic - Petitions 31-21 and 38-21
Minute Number: 22/150/CAB
Cabinet agreed for the Minister for Transport and City Services table a Government Response to the Standing Committee responding to Report 9 – Inquiry into the Impact of revised speed limits in Civic – Petitions 31-21 and 38-21.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Ministerial Statement – Summary of 2021-22 High-Risk Weather Season (Bushfire and Storm)
Minute Number: 22/262/CAB
Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Police and Emergency Services deliver a Ministerial Statement providing a summary of the 2021-22 High-Risk Weather Season (Bushfire and Storm) to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Government Response to Petition 1-22 Speed Limit Signs on Bateman Street
Minute Number: 22/154/CAB
Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to petition 1-22 - Speed Limit Signs on Bateman Street to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Government Response to Petition 49-21 Moncrieff Drying Pad
Minute Number: 22/152/CAB
Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to Petition 49-21 – Moncrieff Drying Pad to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Government Response to Petition 51-21 - Gungahlin skate park upgrade
Minute Number: 22/151/CAB
Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to petition 51-21 - Gungahlin Skate Park Upgrades to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
ACT Government Submission to the Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing – Inquiry into the West Belconnen supercell thunderstorm
Minute Number: 22/230/CAB
Cabinet agreed the ACT Government Submission to the Select Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing’s Inquiry into the West Belconnen supercell thunderstorm
The ACT Government Submission explores the impacts, response and subsequent recovery from the West Belconnen supercell thunderstorm including to health and wellbeing, the economy, the natural environment, inter-agency collaboration and lessons learned.
Ministerial Statement - Wrongful Conviction: reforms to the right to appeal and right to compensation
Minute Number: 22/263/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Attorney-General deliver a Ministerial Statement in the ACT Legislative Assembly on the Discussion Paper – Wrongful conviction: reforms to the right to appeal and right to compensation.
The release of a discussion paper will improve engagement with the ACT community, as all Canberrans will be provided with an opportunity to have their say on reform proposals that will impact the ACT justice system. The reform proposals and the development of future legislative reforms will likely have a human rights impact, as the right to appeal is likely to support the right to a fair trial by providing a fresh avenue for appeal in the event that fresh and compelling evidence becomes available.
Regulation for a minimum energy efficiency standard for rental homes
Minute Number: 22/53/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Executive make the Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulation 2022 to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for ceiling insulation for residential rental properties.
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulation 2022 will have a major positive impact on renters living in energy inefficient homes by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and thus improving their thermal comfort and reducing energy hardship. Negative impacts are assessed as minor.
Ministerial Statement: Update on Set Up for Success, an Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT
Minute Number: 22/304/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Early Childhood Development deliver a Ministerial Statement updating the Assembly on Set Up for Success, an Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Benefits will be realised through improvements in educational outcomes, improvements in participation in ongoing post school education, and improvements in employment and other life outcomes.
Ministerial Statement – Biannual Update on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Final Report – Independent Review into the Workplace Culture within ACT Public Health Services
Minute Number: 22/183/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Health deliver a Ministerial Statement providing an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Final Report: Independent Review into the Workplace Culture within ACT Public Health Services to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The implementation of recommendations from the Culture Review will impact the entire workforce of ACT Health Directorate, Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce to ensure that the workforce feels supported, valued and empowered. Improved workplace culture across the ACT public health system will indirectly impact patients and consumers, and their families and carers.
Improving the public housing application process
Minute Number: 22/294/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services deliver a Ministerial Statement on Improving the public housing application process to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Reimagining Gateway project being undertaken by Housing ACT, aims to deliver improvements to client engagement and service delivery to help clients navigate their housing options, including changes to the public housing application process to make it more accessible and more transparent.
Ministerial Statement – Address to the Assembly on World Day for Health and Safety at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day
Minute Number: 22/303/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety deliver a Ministerial Statement to the ACT Legislative Assembly for World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Ministerial Statement – Recognition of our First Responders
Minute Number: 22/302/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Police and Emergency Services deliver a Ministerial Statement acknowledging the work of first responders, particularly police, paramedics and firefighters, who have continued to prioritise the safety of Canberrans under challenging circumstances in recent years. This Ministerial Statement is to be delivered in the ACT Legislative Assembly to coincide with International Firefighters’ Day.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Ministerial Statement - Skilled to Succeed: Skills and Workforce Agenda for the ACT
Minute Number: 22/279/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Skills deliver a Ministerial Statement on Skilled to Succeed: Skills and Workforce Agenda for the ACT to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The delivery of the Ministerial Statement in the May 2022 Assembly will positively impact education and lifelong learning in the broader ACT community by promoting key themes from Skilled to Succeed: Skills and Workforce Agenda for the ACT. The statement will highlight core principals of inclusion and accessibility, focus on lifelong learning, and multiple pathways to education and work.
Ministerial Statement - Home Energy Support Program and Business Fleet Advisory Service
Minute Number: 22/270/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction deliver a Ministerial Statement providing an update on the Home Energy Support Program and the Business Fleet Advisory Service in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Home Energy Support Program targets vulnerable renters in the public and private rental sectors, and low-income homeowners including those with chronic conditions. The Business Fleet Advisory Service targets small to large businesses and community organisations. Both programs are expected to impact members of all eight identified groups in the Wellbeing Framework and several of the wellbeing domains including housing and home; environment and climate; health and living standards.
Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Minute Number: 22/23/CAB
Cabinet agreed to amendments proposed by the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2022.
The community in general will benefit from the technical changes proposed by the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. The Bill’s amendments include expanded protections for children and young people with respect to sales of smoking products, management of impacts from Commonwealth law changes related to the scheduling and availability of nicotine, and changes to support the acknowledgement of organ donors.
Gas Transition Enabling Legislation Amendment Bill – Policy approval
Minute Number: 22/219/CAB
Cabinet agreed to commence drafting amendments to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010, Utilities Act 2000 and the National Gas Law implemented in the ACT through the National Gas (ACT) Act 2008, to enable regulations to be made in future that prevent gas connections in both greenfield estates and infill development in the ACT under amended legislation.
The amendments will positively impact wellbeing in relation to the environment and climate and improvement in living standards. The changes will assist the Territory to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas use across the entire Territory. By establishing a mechanism that, through subsequent regulation, can prevent new natural gas connections, emissions from natural gas use within the Territory will be constrained. This action will help to underpin the Territory’s commitment to phasing out the use of fossil fuel gas by 2045.
Delivery of remaining Taskforce functions and the Ongoing Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme post 30 June 2022
Minute Number: 22/218/CAB
Cabinet agreed to support the delivery of Taskforce functions post closure of the Taskforce on 30 June 2022 within the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
The decision has a direct and ongoing positive impact on the wellbeing of the community by providing consistent service delivery and tailored support for homeowners impacted by loose fill asbestos insulation after the closure of the Taskforce on 30 June 2022.
Government Response to Inspector Report - Report of a Review of a Critical Incident – Hostage Taking Incident at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on 27 March 2021
Minute Number: 21/778/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the Minister for Corrections tabling of the Government Response to Inspector Report – Report of a Review of a Critical Incident – Hostage Taking Incident at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on 27 March 2021 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Implementing actions to address the recommendations as outlined in the Government Response will contribute to the continuous improvement of the care, treatment and safety of staff and detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). Trust in government is promoted by taking oversight agency recommendations seriously and carefully considering the need to implement them.
Government Response to the Coronial Inquest into the death of Blake Andrew Corney
Minute Number: 21/795/CAB
Cabinet considered the Report of the Coroner’s Inquiry and Government Response into the death of Blake Corney.
The measures proposed are expected to positively impact safety by reducing fatigue and distraction related heavy vehicle crashes. There may be a potential impact on privacy with an increase in scrutiny and reporting on driver health.
Bees for World Bee Day – Ministerial Statement
Minute number: 22/320/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment deliver a Ministerial Statement recognising the importance of bees on World Bee Day and their connection with the ACT’s Food and Fibre Strategy.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Gene Technology Advisory Council Members Appointments (Minute Number: 22/301/CAB)
- City Renewal Authority Board Appointments (Minute Number: 22/242/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.