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11 March 2024

Cabinet decision summary for the week of 11 March 2024

Cabinet Date: 12 March 2024

Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2024 (No 2) – Agreement to Introduce

Minute Number: 24/071/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services introduce the Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2024 (No 2) to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2024 (No 2) delivers on commitments in the 10th Legislative Assembly of the ACT’s Parliamentary and Governing Agreement and addresses key recommendations from extensive child protection service reviews. This Bill aims to significantly bolster trust and transparency in the ACT’s child protection system. Its implementation will not only enhance legal frameworks from the child protection system, but also foster a stronger sense of community, safety, and belonging, directly benefiting the well-being of children and young people and families in the ACT.

Statutory Review of the Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020

Minute Number: 24/046/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Chief Minister table the Report of the Statutory Review of Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The statutory review of the Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 supports the wellbeing domains of Safety, Identity and Belonging, Governance and Institutions and Health. The Act is designed to protect LGBTIQA+ Canberrans from the harm caused by sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, including through justice mechanisms. The Review seeks to ensure the legislation is effective, which results in LGBTIQA+ Canberrans being safe from harmful conversion practices.

State of the Environment Report 2023

Minute Number: 24/044/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management table the ACT State of the Environment Report 2023 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The ACT State of the Environment Report 2023 is prepared by the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment pursuant to the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993. The ACT State of the Environment Report provides the ACT community and the government with commentary and analysis about the environment in the ACT. The report assesses a set of indicators for seven environmental themes – climate change, human settlements, air, land, biodiversity, water and fire – which are consistent with previous reports so that trends can be revealed, and changes assessed.

Review of the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008 and Government Response

Minute Number: 23/879/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction table the report of the Review of the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008, the Government Response and present a Ministerial Statement in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The Review of the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008 demonstrates the operation of the Act continues to have a positive impact on the wellbeing domain of Environment and Climate. The continued implementation of the scheme will result in reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; diversify the ACT energy supply; and reduce the ACT's vulnerability to long-term price volatility in relation to fossil fuels.

Gaming Machine (Compulsory Surrender) Amendment Bill 2024

Minute Number: 23/736/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Gaming present the Gaming Machine (Compulsory Surrender) Amendment Bill 2024 to the ACT Legislative Assembly. The Bill will amend the Gaming Machine Act 2004 to provide for the compulsory surrender of gaming machine authorisations following the end of the voluntary surrender program.

Policy Approval was agreed by Cabinet on 12 December 2023 (Minute Number: 23/735/CAB Gaming Machine (Compulsory Surrender) Amendment Bill 2024).

The Bill has a primary wellbeing impact on the governance and institutions domain and secondary wellbeing impacts across the living standards, health and economy wellbeing domains. The reforms will have a major impact on promoting trust in ACT Government; a major impact on ACT EGM operators (clubs); a minor impact on reducing gambling expenditure; and a minor impact on people at risk or affected by gambling harm.

Cabinet date: 17 March 2024

Final Report on implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements

Minute Number: 24/067/CAB

Cabinet agreed the ACT Government’s contribution to the Final Report on implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The input will inform the Final Report being prepared by the National Emergency Management Agency to capture implementation efforts nationally.

The ACT Government’s contribution to the Final Report on implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (RCNNDA) has the potential to impact the wellbeing of broad sectors of the community. The Final Report, which will be informed by input from all jurisdictions, is anticipated to have a positive impact on community wellbeing by providing assurance that governments at all levels have worked collaboratively to implement actions that will make communities safer and more prepared for natural disasters.
The Final Report may have a negative impact on wellbeing if it provokes memories of past natural disasters, or if it is perceived that governments have not done enough to prevent future natural disasters. As disasters have a disproportionate impact on First Nations communities, the RCNNDA Final Report may have a more profound impact on this community.

Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Minute Number: 24/060/CAB

Cabinet agreed the development of a Bill to enhance the Environment Protection Act 1997 and the Water Resources Act 2007.

Proposed amendments will enhance the operation of the Environment Protection Act 1997 and Water Resources Act 2007 including administration, efficiency, clarity and regulatory responses to protect human health, the environment and the wellbeing of the ACT community.

Government Submission – ECCB Inquiry into Petition 1723 Indian (Common) Myna Control

Minute Number: 24/048/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management provide the Government Submission to the Standing Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity for their inquiry into Petition 17-23 Indian Common Myna Control.

The ACT Government’s management of invasive species provides an integrated and prioritised approach 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.

Government Response to the Office of the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services (OICS)

Minute Number: 24/033/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services table the ACT Government Response to the Report of the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services (OICS) Thematic Review of Bimberi Youth Justice Centre in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The Government Response reflects the ACT Government’s commitment to the rights of young people in youth detention in the ACT and the continual maturity of ACT’s youth justice system. There are no direct economic or environmental impacts stemming from the Government Response to the Inspector of Correctional Services’ Report.

Ministerial Statement – National Multicultural Festival 2024

Minute Number: 24/189/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Multicultural Affairs present a Ministerial Statement on the 2024 National Multicultural Festival to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The 2024 National Multicultural Festival Ministerial Statement addresses the ACT Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for all Canberrans to actively participate and engage in society through the sharing of cultural and linguistic diversity. The Wellbeing Domain primarily addressed is Identity and Belonging.

Retirement of Chief Police Officer (CPO) Gaughan

Minute Number: 24/138/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Acting Minister for Police and Crime Prevention present the Ministerial Statement – Retirement of Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan APM, Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The domain of safety is most closely related to the issues raised in the Ministerial Statement which seeks to highlight some of the major achievements made towards community safety by Deputy Commissioner Gaughan over the last four years.

Diagnostic Imaging Equipment – Assembly Resolution of 21 September 2023

Minute Number: 23/877/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Health present a Ministerial Statement providing an update on the Diagnostic Imaging Equipment to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

This proposal supports the health wellbeing domain. Upgraded Medical Imaging equipment across the Territory enables timely access to public hospital Medical Imaging services for non- acute patients whilst maintaining priority and accessibility to urgent services for more acute patients of Canberra Hospital. Investing in state-of-the-art technology supports the wellbeing of Canberra Health Services’ health professionals by attracting and retaining highly skilled workforce and supporting existing staff.

Government Response – Report of a Review of a critical incident by the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services – An Alleged Sexual Assault of a Detained Person at the Alexander Maconochie Centre

Minute Number: 23/865/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Corrections and Justice Health table the Government Response - Report of a Review of a critical incident by the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services—An Alleged Sexual Assault of a Detained Person at the Alexander Maconochie Centre 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 (AMC).

Statutory Review of criminal groups provisions and affray provisions

Minute Number: 23/755/CAB

Cabinet agreed: the Statutory Review of: Sections 35A(2) and (3) and Section 35AA of the Crimes Act 1900; the Statutory Review of part 4.6 of the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005; and the Attorney-General table both review Reports in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The Statutory Review of Sections 35A(2) and (3) and Section 35AA of the Crimes Act 1900 (affray offences) and the Statutory Review of Part 4.6 of the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 (penalties for criminal group offences) support the wellbeing domain of Safety as they support appropriate action being taken in relation to violent behaviour and organised criminal activity. The reviews support the wellbeing domain of Government and Institutions as they provide a process for considering the effectiveness of certain ACT laws.

Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) Amendment Bill 2024

Minute Number: 23/729/CAB

Cabinet agreed: the development of the Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) to implement in the ACT the legislative requirements for Part IV of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT); and to include in the Bill amendments to the Inspector of Correctional Services Act 2017 (ICS Act) to implement urgent amendments arising from consultation conducted for the statutory review of the ICS Act.

The implementation of the legislative requirements for Part IV of OPCAT providing for the establishment, functions and powers of the NPM will contribute to the governance and institutions wellbeing domain by strengthening the human rights framework in the ACT. The reform will enhance the protection of the fundamental rights of people in detention in the ACT and improve conditions in detention facilities where required.

Assembly Resolution of 27 June 2023 – Lighting in Public Space

Minute Number: 23/579/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for City Service table the Government Response to the Assembly resolution 27 June 2023 regarding lighting in public spaces in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) manages over 82,000 public streetlights; over 1,200 streetlight control boxes; and associated underground cabling to operate the network. This is a significant network that supports the needs of people in the community. Public lighting supports community safety and improves the access and connectivity, particularly at night. The ACT Government will continue to adopt best practice lighting design choices for Canberrans.

Appointments

Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:

  • Appointment of Ordinary members of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission Governing Board (Minute Number: 24/082/CAB)
  • Appointment to the Act Judicial Council (Minute Number: 24/081/CAB)
  • Appointment of the Secure Local Jobs Code Registrar (Minute Number: 24/047/CAB)
  • Appointment of the Secure Local Jobs Code Registrar (Minute Number: 24/042/CAB)
  • Appointments to the ACT Youth Advisory Council (Minute Number: 23/867/CAB)

Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.