19 September 2022
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 19 September 2022
Cabinet date: 19 September 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner Bill 2022
Minute Number: 22/126/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Human Rights introducing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner Bill 2022 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner will have wellbeing impacts across the governance and institutions and identity and belonging domains. The Commissioner will have a significantly positive wellbeing impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, their families and the wider community. Establishing the Commissioner will demonstrate the Government’s commitment to engaging the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in decision making processes on issues that directly affect their human rights and cultural and family interests.
Response to Assembly Resolution – Non-payment of Fines
Minute Number: 22/329/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Attorney-General table the Government Response to the ACT Legislative Assembly resolution passed on 24 March 2022, calling on the ACT Government to report on prosecution approaches following non-payment of fines.
This decision supports the Governance and Institutions wellbeing domain by promoting transparency.
Updated Capital Framework
Minute Number: 22/484/CAB
Cabinet agreed to endorse the adoption of the updated Capital Framework and the Capital Framework being used to guide development of projects for consideration in the 2023-24 Budget and onwards.
Cabinet noted that the main wellbeing impact of this Submission is Governance and Institutions.
Government Submission to Standing Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity – Inquiry into the waste management of absorbent hygiene products
Minute Number: 2022/548/CAB
Cabinet agreed the ACT Government submission to the Standing Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity – Inquiry into the waste management of absorbent hygiene products.
The submission highlights opportunities which can contribute positively to environment and climate wellbeing, such as encouraging the use of more sustainable alternatives to reduce the volume of disposable products entering our waste systems, as part of growing the circular economy.
Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety’s Inquiry into Dangerous Driving – Government Submission
Minute Number: 22/553/CAB
Cabinet agreed to provide the Government Submission to the Inquiry into Dangerous Driving (the Submission) to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety.
The Government submission supports trust in government by demonstrating that the ACT Government welcomes and values public discussion on how the community can be kept safe from dangerous driving offending and that the ACT Government is participating in public processes to hear and respond to the concerns of the community.
Government Response to Petition 9-22 – Platypus Centre Carpark
Minute Number: 22/592/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the Government Response to Petition 9 - 22 – Platypus Centre Carpark 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.
2023 Assembly Sitting Calendar
Minute Number: 22/610/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Manager of Government Business move the Motion – 2023 Assembly Sitting Program in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022
Minute Number: 22/62/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the introduction in the ACT Legislative Assembly of a Freedom of Information Amendment Bill which will make amendments to the Act to allow for more flexibility in administrative processes and enable more efficient processing of access requests.
The Freedom of Information Amendment Bill will introduce amendments to allow more flexibility in administrative processes and enable more efficient processing of information access requests. A more streamlined FOI framework supports applicants and respondents to direct resources and time to processes that contribute to fast and fair decision-making. The Bill is intended to facilitate access to government information, and improve outcomes for all individual applicants, government respondents, and review bodies. This will have wellbeing impacts in the governance and institutions domain.
Guardianship and Management of Property Amendment Bill 2022
Minute Number: 22/64/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the introduction of the Guardianship and Management of Property Amendment Bill 2022.
The Bill will have positive impacts in the identity and belonging domain, by promoting and recognising the rights of people to make their own decisions and have their will, preferences and rights respected. This may in turn have positive impacts across the health, housing and home, identity and belonging, and living standards wellbeing domains, as enhanced decision-making support may empower people to take action to improve their wellbeing.
The Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy (Best Start)
Minute Number: 22/292/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the release of the Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy and Action Plan.
Best Start will complement Set up for Success and the principles of Early Support: Changing Systems, Changing Lives, aiming to change health and wellbeing outcomes for children and families. This will include strengthening targeted early supports in the critical time between conception and around 2 years of age.
Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Minute Number: 21/838/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the development of a Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 to amend a number of pieces of criminal law legislation which will improve the ACT criminal justice system and ensure that it operates effectively.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 will make five amendments to improve the operation and efficacy of criminal laws in the ACT.
Clarifying policy decisions on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility
Minute Number: 22/619/CAB
The ACT Government agreed to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in a staged approach and to consider relevant exceptions to certain offences relating to children aged 12 and 13 years.
Raising the MACR will have positive impacts for the ACT community in relation to outcomes for safety, justice, rights protection, and health and wellbeing.
Health Workforce Wellbeing and Recovery Business Case
Minute number: 22/521/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the Health Workforce Wellbeing and Recovery initiative.
The business case seeks to establish a flexible Wellbeing Fund and provide funding for co-designed activities focused on providing incentives and recognition directed at: supporting the wellbeing of the ACT health workforce in the short term as they recover from the COVID pandemic and current increased demand; and strengthening the workplace environments and capacity of the health workforce by attracting and retaining staff in circumstances of reduced availability and increased competition nationally and internationally for health workers.
Proposed purchase of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) vaccine for the 2023-24 summer season from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Minute number: 22/584/CAB
Cabinet agreed to the commencement of negotiations on the purchase of 10,000 doses of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) vaccine from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
It is anticipated that the proposal will allow the ACT Government to offer vaccine against JEV for priority individuals in the ACT. This will protect the health of those most at risk of severe illness from JEV.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Appointment to the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) – UC nominee (Minute Number: 22/516/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.