25 July 2022
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 25 July 2022
Cabinet date: 26 July 2022
Final Report: Understanding the ‘Missing Middle’ Children and young people with moderate to severe mental health concerns who experience difficulties accessing services.
Minute Number: 22/106/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Mental Health deliver a Ministerial Statement on and table
and the Final Report: Understanding the ‘Missing Middle’ Children and young people with moderate to severe mental health concerns who experience difficulties accessing services in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
It is anticipated the impact of the Final Report will provide government and non-government and community members with a better understanding of the key challenges facing our younger community when seeking to access services whilst experiencing moderate to severe mental health concerns. This information will support government to work with the mental health sector to enhance the experience for our community.
ACT Government response to the Assembly Resolution on Assisted Reproductive Technology – Regulation and Access
Minute Number: 22/224/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Health table the Government Response to the Assembly Resolution on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) – Regulation and Access in the Legislative Assembly and deliver a Ministerial Statement.
Implementing the next steps as listed in the ACT Government Response will positively impact all people interacting with ART services in the ACT, including donor conceived people, LGBTIQ+ people, single people and donors. Exploring options to improve the affordability and accessibility of ART in the ACT aims to mitigate the cost barrier to accessing these services, and through this improve the financial wellbeing and living standards of Canberrans. A future regulatory framework, including a register of donor information, will ensure ART providers operate to a high standard, provide appropriate support services, improve accessibility of information by donor conceived people and ensure the provision of quality care.
Government Response to Petitions 22-2 & 14-22 - Upgrade of Braddon Park (Lowanna Street)
Minute Number: 22/361/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to Petitions 2-22 & 14-22 - Upgrade of Braddon Park (Lowanna 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.
National Mental Health Workforce Strategy
Minute Number: 22/412/CAB
Cabinet agreed to provide ACT Government endorsement of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy.
The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy will have direct implications for the health of the ACT mental health workforce and local community. The National Strategy will help to ensure that the mental health workforce has the skills and supports needed to be responsive to the evolving mental health needs of the ACT community.
Ministerial Statement: Combustible Cladding Scheme update
Minute Number: 22/414/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction deliver a Ministerial Statement in the ACT Legislative Assembly on the Private Buildings Cladding Scheme.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Investigating the future of education through the Affiliated Schools Program
Minute Number: 22/458/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs deliver a Ministerial Statement on the Affiliated Schools program in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Response to Assembly Resolution - Language challenges facing Canberra’s multicultural community
Minute Number: 22/89/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Multicultural Affairs deliver a Ministerial Statement and Government Update on the ACT Legislative Assembly Resolution on language challenges facing Canberra’s multicultural community.
The ACT Government is committed to ensuring Canberra continues to be a proudly welcoming and multicultural city, where everybody can access government services, programs and processes, and fully participate in civic life. Supporting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to participate on equal terms in the social, cultural, economic, civic and political life of the ACT is critical to creating a more inclusive and welcoming city and aligns with the access and connectivity domain of the Wellbeing Framework.
Children and Young People Lens of the ACT Wellbeing Framework
Minute Number: 22/355/CAB
Cabinet agreed to release the Children and Young People Lens of the ACT Wellbeing Framework, a data dashboard presenting outcomes relating to health, learning and development, as well as broader wellbeing of children and young people from pregnancy to 25 years of age, across 11 of the 12 wellbeing domains.
To inform those working with the ACT community to improve wellbeing outcomes for children and young people aged 0-25 years. Publicly releasing wellbeing information in relation to children and young people provides the opportunity to reflect on the roles we can all play to improve the healthy development and life choices of our children and young people.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Public Interest Monitor Panel Appointments (Minute Number: 21/840/CAB)
- ACT Multicultural Advisory Council Re-Appointments (Minute Number: 22/225/CAB)
- Appointment of the Chair of the Official Visitors Board (Minute Number: 22/57/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.
Cabinet date: 27 July 2022
Tabling of the consultant’s Report on the Review of the Mental Health (Secure Facilities) Act 2016
Minute Number: 22/321/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Mental Health deliver a Ministerial Statement and table the consultant’s Report on the Review of the Mental Health (Secure Facilities) Act 2016 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Cabinet noted that the largest wellbeing impact of the tabling of the Report on the Review of the Mental Health (Secure Facilities) Act 2016 is in the Health domain as it relates to supporting the mental health of the community.
Government Response to Inspector Report – Report of a Review of a Critical Incident – A serious fire at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on 12 May 2021
Minute Number: 22/336/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Corrections table the Government Response – Report of a Review of a Critical Incident – A serious fire at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on 12 May 2021 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Government Response addresses recommendations made by the Inspector or Correctional Services. Implementing the recommendations the ACT Government agreed to will contribute to the continuous improvement of the care, treatment and safety of detainees and staff at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022-2026
Minute Number: 22/461/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the release of Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022-2026, Action Plan, ACT Arts Organisation Investment Framework and Guidelines.
Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022-2026 will have positive impacts in primary domains of identity and belonging and social connection for the Canberra arts sector and broader community. It will also have positive impacts across a number of secondary domains such as economy, health, education and life-long learning and living standards.
Urban Forest Bill 2022 – Agreement to Introduce
Minute Number: 21/306/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services introduce the Urban Forest Bill 2022 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
This proposal sets the framework for a contemporary tree protection system to support delivery of ACT Government commitments outlined in the Urban Forest Strategy 2021-2045 (the Urban Forest Strategy), the Climate Change Strategy 2019-2025 and the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement for the 10th Legislative Assembly of the ACT.
Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021 and Government amendments
Minute Number: 22/426/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Health present the Government amendments to the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021.
This proposal is expected to have a moderate impact on the Wellbeing Domain of Health. The Private Member’s Bill with Government amendments should encourage people to use health care by reducing stigma concerning health problems related to illicit drugs. The Bill will have a major impact on Living Standards for individuals, particularly young people, who avoid criminal conviction for a minor drug offence, and the resulting damage to their prospects in life. The Bill will also have a moderate to major impact on the Wellbeing Domain of Governance and Institutions by expanding drug decriminalisation measures for more commonly used drugs in line with the Government’s harm minimisation approach and current community expectations.
Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Amendment Bill 2022 – Government Amendments
Minute Number: 22/429/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the Government amendments to the Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Amendment Bill 2022.
The Government amendments to the Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Amendment Bill 2022 will have positive impacts on the wellbeing domain of governance and institutions in the Territory, through strengthening human rights protections.
COVID-19 Response – Implementation of a COVID-19 Management Declaration to step down for the Public Health Emergency Declaration
Minute Number: 22/446/CAB
Cabinet agreed the approach to implementing a COVID-19 Management Declaration and Ministerial and Chief Health Officer COVID-19 Management Directions based on advice from the Chief Health Officer. Cabinet also agreed to the appointment of the ACT Chief Magistrate, to the position of External Reviewer under section 118ZI of the Public Health Act 1997.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Petition 17-22 – Save Canberra’s Kangaroos – Government Response
Minute Number: 22/453/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Government Response to Petition 17-22 - Save Canberra’s Kangaroos.
The Kangaroo Management Program provides an integrated approach to macropod management to achieve immediate and ongoing conservation outcomes, long-term ecosystem resilience and sustainable and profitable agricultural systems - ensuring the natural, physical, and social and economic amenities of Canberra’s local reserve system and surrounding farmlands are conserved for the Canberra community. In addition to this many Canberrans live within walking distance of a local reserve, these spaces are used and appreciated by the vast majority of Canberrans for recreation, exercise, and quiet enjoyment of nature. Healthy, functioning ecosystems are visible to even casual users, degraded reserves do not provide the same physical, social or natural amenity that intact ecosystems do. Ensuring one-off, or every day users have access to well managed reserves enhances the physical, mental health benefits.
Government Submission – Inquiry into housing and rental affordability – vacant residential dwellings.
Minute Number: 22/377/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the Government Submission being provided to the Inquiry for housing and rental affordability being undertaken by the Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality.
The Government Submission to the Inquiry into housing and rental affordability will have wellbeing impacts in the housing and home domain. Housing affordability is a significant issue of concern and commentary in the ACT. The Submission provides available data, information and advice on the issues that will inform the work of the Standing Committee.
Statutory Review of the Confiscation of Criminal Assets (Unexplained Wealth) Amendment Act 2020
Minute Number: 22/15/CAB
Cabinet agreed to table the report on the Statutory Review of the Confiscation of Criminal Assets (Unexplained Wealth) Amendment Act 2020 in the ACT Legislative Assembly in accordance with statutory requirements set out in section 258A of the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003. Cabinet agreed that the ACT Government will conduct a further review of the Confiscation of Criminal Assets (Unexplained Wealth) Amendment Act 2020 in three years.
the report on the Statutory Review of the Confiscation of Criminal Assets (Unexplained Wealth) Amendment Act 2020 promotes trust in government by ensuring integrity and transparency in creating and reviewing laws that are consistent with community priorities.
Continued COVID-19 supports for vulnerable Canberrans over winter 2022
Minute Number: 22/486/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Families and Communities present the Executive Motion – Continued support for vulnerable Canberrans through Winter 2022 to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The proposal will support the wellbeing domain of Health as it will ensure the continued provision of health-related supports, services and relevant information to vulnerable Canberrans impacted by COVID-19 during the winter period.
Executive Motion – Expression of Solidarity for Abortion Rights in the USA
Minute Number: 22/477/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Women present the Executive Motion to the ACT Legislative Assembly and sign Letters to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Planned Parenthood Federation of America; NARAL Pro-Choice America, and American Civil Liberties Union to express the ACT Government’s solidarity for Abortion Rights in the USA.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 – Policy approval
Minute Number: 22/370/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the drafting of the Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, the next in a series of Bills to maintain and improve the operation of the ACT’s tax laws.
The submission supports the ACT economy by promoting the effective and efficient operation and integrity of the ACT tax system.
Enhancing the Motor Accident Injuries Commission’s compliance tools – Policy Approval
Minute number: 22/392/CAB
Cabinet agreed amendments be drafted to enhance the operation of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019.
The proposal will have an ongoing positive impact in the wellbeing domain of Governance and Institutions through increasing ACT community trust in government with respect to the Motor Accident Injuries Scheme.
Ministerial Statement – ACT Fire and Rescue Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024
Minute Number: 22/409/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Police and Emergency Services deliver a Ministerial Statement to acknowledge the work that has been undertaken to meet the requirements set out within the ACT Fire and Rescue Enterprise Agreement 2020-24.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Appointment of Dhulwa inquiry Chair and expert advisors (Minute Number: 22/483/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.
Reasons for withholding access
Minute Number: 22/345/CAB