22 April 2024
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 22 April 2024
Cabinet date: 24 April 2024
ACT Government Supplementary Submission to the Inquiry into Micro, Small, and Medium Businesses in the ACT Region – Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality
Minute Number: 24/278/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Business provide the ACT Government Supplementary Submission to the Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality Inquiry into Micro, Small, and Medium Businesses in the ACT Region.
The wellbeing impacts of the ACT Government Supplementary Submission to the Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality Inquiry into Micro, Small, and Medium Businesses in the ACT Region relate primarily to the wellbeing domain of Economy. The micro, small, and medium business sector makes a significant contribution to the ACT economy, driving economic diversification, providing secure and stable jobs for Canberrans and improving wellbeing through shaping solutions to local and global problems.
Government response to the Report of the Select Committee into the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023 and government amendments to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023
Minute Number: 24/220/CAB
Cabinet agreed: the Minister for Human Rights present to the ACT Legislative Assembly the Government Response to the Report of the Select Committee Inquiry into the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, government amendments to the Bill, a revised Explanatory Statement for the Bill, and a supplementary Explanatory Statement for the Bill; and the Minister for Health present a Ministerial Statement on palliative care services in the ACT in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The submission reflects the ability of all Canberrans to connect with and be part of key government processes. It highlights how community views were taken into account by the Select Committee and in turn, by ACT Government in responding to the Select Committee’s recommendations. It demonstrates to Canberrans that they have a government and Assembly that are responsible, reliable, have integrity, are open, and are fair.
Government Response – Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety – Report No 22 – Inquiry into the Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023
Minute Number: 24/185/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Human Rights table the Government Response to the Government Response to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety Report No 22 - Inquiry into the Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Government response contributes to the wellbeing outcome of Governance and Institutions by supporting the positive culture of human rights across government and the broader ACT community by promoting ongoing engagement with human rights legislation and opportunities to strengthen it.
ACT Government land supply and release process reforms
Minute Number: 24/197/CAB
Cabinet agreed reforms to land supply and release processes.
Reforms to land supply and release processes will have positive impacts on the ACT Wellbeing Domains of Housing and Home, Economy and Living Standards.
Minute Number: 24/031/CAB
Open Access - Reason for Withholding Access
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Labour Hire Licensing Advisory Committee - Appointment - April 2024 (Minute Number: 24/292/CAB)
- Appointment – Kim Szandurski – Secure Local Jobs Code Advisory Council Member and Chair (Minute Number: 24/277/CAB)
- Reappointment of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner (Minute Number: 24/102/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.
Cabinet date: 28 April 2024
Swimming Pool Safety Improvement Strategy: Recurrent Initiative proposal: new fees
Minute Number: 24/214/CAB
Cabinet agreed new fees to support the implementation of the Building (Swimming Pool Safety) Legislation Amendment Act 2023.
The establishment of a home swimming pool safety scheme which includes requirements for home swimming pools and spas to have a barrier compliant with modern safety standards in the ACT will have positive impacts across the health and safety wellbeing domains by reducing fatal drownings and serious injuries from non-fatal drownings in home swimming pools.
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Minute Number: 23/724/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Attorney-General present the Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 to the ACT Legislative.
The Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 has a primary positive wellbeing impact on the governance and institutions domain. There are secondary positive wellbeing impacts in the economic domain.
Combined Our Booris, Our Way Review - Six monthly update and Out of Home Care Snapshot Report - May 2024
Minute Number: 24/188/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Children, Youth and Families Services provide a Ministerial Statement on the progress on the Government Response to the recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way final report and the Next Steps for Our Kids Strategy and to tabling the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Update – July to December 2023 and Out of Home Care Snapshot Report – a presentation of data covering 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2023 in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Implementation of the Our Booris, Our Way recommendations focus on reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the child protection system, improving the experience of children and young people whilst in care, and increasing pathways for restoration to parents, kin and culture. The intention of the Next Steps for Our Kids Strategy is to improve outcomes for children and young people by providing more flexible, child focused services; and to reduce demand for out of home care places. The Out of Home Care Snapshot Report provides transparency of data earlier than is possible through national reporting mechanisms.
Government Response to Petition E-PET-003-24 – Improvements to the Pulleine Crescent Neighbourhood Playground in Macgregor
Minute Number: 24/144/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for City Services provide the response to Petition 003-24 - Improvements to the Pulleine Crescent Neighbourhood Playground in Macgregor to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly for tabling.
The ACT Government recognises that play spaces can enhance health and wellbeing, strengthen the social fabric of our communities and contribute to environmental outcomes.
Agreement to Introduce the Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Minute Number: 24/061/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management present the Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Proposed amendments will enhance the operation of the Environment Protection Act 1997 including administration, efficiency, clarity and regulatory responses to protect human health, the environment and the associated wellbeing of the ACT community.
Urban Agriculture - Response to Assembly Resolution of 25 October 2023
Minute Number: 24/140/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management present a Ministerial Statement to the ACT Legislative Assembly to address the ACT Legislative Assembly Resolution of 25 October 2023 about urban agriculture.
Urban agriculture activities implemented under the Canberra Region Local Food Strategy 2024-2029, once finalised, will positively impact the wellbeing of the Canberra community, environment, and economy by supporting and encouraging the ACT and local region’s food system. The Strategy seeks to increase local food production and consumption, increase equitable access to local healthy food, enhance social and economic outcomes through our local food system, and support sustainable urban and rural farming practices.
Federation Funding Agreement FFA (Schedule) – Smoking and Vaping Cessation Activities
Minute Number: 24/129/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Population Health sign the Federation Funding Agreement - Smoking and Vaping Cessation Activities, increasing the total amount of funding available to States and Territories to ensure that a minimum equivalent level of Quitline services is available to all Australians regardless of location, with additional development or expansion of services providing support for vaping cessation.
The main wellbeing domain is Health with the following impacts: increasing access to treatment and support for people who smoke or use e-cigarettes, a reduction in e-cigarette use and smoking prevalence, and reduction of adverse effects of e-cigarette use, including dependency. Quitting smoking leads to improvements in physical and mental health and is associated with reduced burden on the health of individuals and on the health system.
Ministerial Statement ACT Youth Week 2024
Minute Number: 24/068/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs present a Ministerial Statement on Youth Week 2024 during the 14-16 May 2024 sitting period in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Youth Week Statement addresses the ACT Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for young people in the ACT to actively participate and engage in society through events and activities. The Wellbeing Domain primarily addressed is Identity and Belonging, but the proposal also caters to Social Connection.
Ministerial Statement - Procurement reform program - Assembly Resolution of 30 November 2023
Minute Number: 24/066/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Special Minister of State present a Ministerial Statement on Procurement Reform in the ACT Legislative Assembly in accordance with the Assembly Resolution of 30 November 2023 on the Procurement Reform Program.
Cabinet notes this Statement provides an update on the implementation of the Reform Program, the initiatives will improve procurement processes and the efficiency and effectiveness of government expenditure.
Bimberi Headline Indicators Report - May 2024
Minute Number: 24/032/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services table the Bimberi Headline Indicators Report in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Report demonstrates Bimberi’s ongoing commitment to the wellbeing domain of Safety of children, young people and staff in Bimberi.
Draft ACT Water Strategy 2024-44 - Public Consultation
Minute Number: 23/880/CAB
Cabinet agreed the draft ACT Water Strategy 2024-44 Striking the Balance be released for public consultation.
The draft ACT Water Strategy 2024-44 is an update of the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44: Striking the Balance and will further guide the future direction of ACT water policy in relation to striving for healthy catchments and waterbodies, sustainable water resources used efficiently, a community that values and enjoys clean and healthy catchments, and caring for water with Traditional Custodians. The draft ACT Water Strategy 2024-44 will benefit all Canberrans across a wide range of wellbeing domain areas.
Nature Conservation Act Review – Discussion Paper
Minute Number: 23/848/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment, Parks, and Land Management release the Nature Conservation Act 2014 Review Discussion Paper for public consultation.
The Nature Conservation Act 2014 Review Discussion Paper will seek feedback from the public on the relevance and operation of the Nature Conservation Act 2014 over the past decade. The discussion paper will seek the public’s opinion on key conservation issues, opportunities, and potential amendments to the Act to better protect, conserve and enhance nature in the ACT.
Age-Friendly City Plan 2020-2024 – Fourth progress report
Minute Number: 23/813/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Community Services, Seniors and Veterans table in the ACT Legislative Assembly and publicly release the Age-Friendly City Plan – Fourth Progress Report.
Cabinet agreed the Age-Friendly City Plan – Fourth Progress Report contributes to the wellbeing of older Canberrans, primarily through the Identity and Belonging domain, and has cross-cutting impacts across all domains of the ACT Wellbeing Framework. The Plan primarily impacts older Canberrans and may have secondary impacts for carers (of older people).
Government Response - Waramanga Street Naming Conventions - Assembly Resolution 12 September 2023
Minute Number: 23/811/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Planning present a Ministerial Statement in response to the Assembly Resolution of 12 September 2023 – Waramanga Street Naming Conventions in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The Ministerial Statement, in response to Waramanga Street Naming Conventions - Assembly Resolution 12 September 2023, supports ‘Identity and Belonging’ wellbeing by providing an update on the project to review the origin and significance of street names in the suburb of Waramanga, commemorating the names of Aboriginal cultural groups from across Australia, and by undertaking to make the reviewed information available in the ACTmapi place names search.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Reappointment of an Acting Judge to the ACT Supreme Court (Minute Number: 24/315/CAB)
- City Renewal Authority Board Appointments June 2024 (Minute Number: 24/092/CAB)
- Scientific Committee Appointments (Minute Number: 23/860/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.