21 February 2022
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 21 February 2022
Cabinet date: 23 February 2022
Government response to Petition 30-21 – Safer Playgrounds
Minute number: 21/822/CAB
Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to petition 30-21 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 34-21 Starving for Services - Lack of Eating Disorder Services in the ACT
Minute number: 22/22/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the Minister for Mental Health delivering a Ministerial Statement and tabling an update to the Eating Disorders Position Statement in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Territory-wide Model of Care for Eating Disorders will outline the guiding principles for the ACT Government’s commitment to strengthening the eating disorders services system and provide an overview of the integrated, stepped model of care for all public eating disorder services in the ACT. This will enable seamless treatment and transition between and across primary care, community care and hospital settings. This is supported by the development of systemwide options rather than focusing on acute service delivery and includes increased health promotion, early intervention, and enhanced outpatient services. This will include appropriate referral pathways across services with clear roles and mechanisms for consultation, collaboration, and review.
Government Response to Petition 46-21 – Urgent cricket infrastructure investment needed in eastern Belconnen
Minute number: 21/825/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Sport and Recreation provide the response to petition 46-21 - Urgent cricket infrastructure investment needed in eastern Belconnen 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 Submission to Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion Inquiry into the ACT Auditor General Report No 6 of 2021: Teaching Quality in ACT Public Schools
Minute number: 21/806/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the ACT Government Submission to the Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion Inquiry into the ACT Auditor General Report No 6 of 2021: Teaching Quality in ACT Public Schools.
The systems supporting teaching quality in ACT Public Schools impact positively on the education and life-long learning of students enrolled in ACT Public Schools.
New Planning Act – Public Consultation
Minute number: 22/44/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the release of the draft Planning Bill, its regulations, the New Planning Act – Policy Overview Paper and supporting explanatory material for three months of public consultation.
The proposal is anticipated to positively impact the wellbeing of the Canberra community through establishing a planning system which supports and enhances the Territory’s liveability and prosperity and promotes the wellbeing of residents. The proposal will have wellbeing impacts across the economy, environment and climate and governance and institutions wellbeing domains.
Policy approval was agreed by Cabinet on 9 June 2021 (Minute number: 21/260/CAB New Planning Act – Policy approval).
Revised ACT Government National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Sanctions Policy
Minute number: 21/788/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the revised ACT Government National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Sanctions Policy.
Impact on the wellbeing of survivors. Survivors will benefit from the sanctions policy as they will be able to access redress if the policy incentivises the institution to join. This may have a positive impact on a survivors’ wellbeing in ways that could include mental, emotional, physical and financial. It acknowledges the survivor experienced sexual abuse as a child in an institution, that this can cause lifelong trauma, and supports the survivor with access to a monetary payment of up to $150,000, access to psychological care and counselling, and a restorative Direct Personal Response.
Impact on the wellbeing of the community. Every Canberran who sends their child to school, sport, church or hospital, or to any government or non-government institution deserves to know that their child is safe while there in the care of adults. By strengthening its sanctions policy, the ACT Government demonstrates its commitment to improving organisational governance to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse occurring. It sends a clear message to the community that it condemns institutions that fail to uphold their moral obligation to join the Scheme.
A community has better wellbeing when its residents have confidence in its system of government to act in an ethical and appropriate manner that best serves the interests of the population. It is in the interests of all Canberrans that institutions in which child sexual abuse occurred take responsibility for their failings.
Government position on Private Members Bill – Public Place Names Amendment Bill 2021
Minute number: 22/046/CAB
The Government agreed to support the Public Place Names Amendment Bill 2021 as presented to omit the word ‘colonisation’ from section 4 (2) (a) of the Public Place Names Act 1989 and substitute the word ‘reconciliation’. The amendment will provide for the Minister to have regard to the names of people for their advocacy to progress reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people in Australia.
The Public Place Names Amendment Bill 2021 supports community wellbeing through acknowledging the changing attitudes our country has concerning the history of our colonial past.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Appointment of Magistrate and dedicated Coroner (Minute number: 22/100/CAB)
- Legal Aid Commissioner Board Appointment (Minute number: 21/670/CAB)
- Appointment of the Light Rail Project Board Independent Chair (Minute number: 21/855/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.
Cabinet date: 27 February 2022
2021-22 Infrastructure Program Quarterly Progress Report – 31 December 2021
Minute Number: 22/28/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Treasurer table the 2021-22 Infrastructure Program Quarterly Progress Report – 31 December 2021 in the ACT Legislative Assembly as required under Section 30F of the Financial Management Act 1996.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.