Cabinet decision summary for the week of 15 September 2025

Cabinet date: 15 September 2025

Government submission – Standing Committee on Environment and Planning - Inquiry into DPA-B – Forrest Section 19 Blocks 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12

Minute Number: 25/512/CAB

Cabinet agreed a submission was not required for the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning’s Inquiry into DPA-B – Forrest Section 19 Blocks 5,6,9, 11 and 12 (the Inquiry).

Zoning and policy changes proposed in DPA-B will contribute to increasing housing supply and housing choice. It aligns with the Government’s commitment to supporting and encouraging increased density development within the existing urban footprint.

Government Response to Snowy Monaro Residential, Commercial and Industrial Lands Strategy 2025-2045

Minute Number: 25/480/CAB

Cabinet agreed to an ACT Government Submission to the Snowy Monaro Regional Council on the draft Residential, Commercial and Industrial Lands Strategy 2025-2045.

The ACT Government’s submission to the Snowy Monaro Draft Residential, Commercial and Industrial Lands Strategy 2025-2045 is not expected to generate direct wellbeing impacts. Implementation of the Snowy Monaro Draft Residential, Commercial and Industrial Lands Strategy 2025-2045 would potentially generate wellbeing impacts across multiple domains and indicators, with the predominate impacts to the housing and home domain.

Government Response to Petition E-PET 014-25 – Secure digital bike storage for Gungahlin Town Centre

Minute Number: 25/416/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the Government Response to petition E-PET 014-25 regarding secure digital bike storage for Gungahlin Town Centre.

The ACT Government recognises that providing suitable bike parking facilities encourages the use of active travel and public transport.

Government Response to Petition E-PET 022-25 – Bus Lanes for Molonglo

Minute Number: 25/414/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the Government Response to petition E-PET 022-25 regarding bus lanes for Molonglo.

The ACT Government is committed to providing accessible and reliable public transport amenities that build for our city’s future.

Interim Government Response to the Final Report: Review of Overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the ACT Criminal Justice System

Minute Number: 25/409/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the proposed ACT Government interim response to the Final Report of the Independent Review into the Overrepresentation of First Nations People in the ACT Criminal Justice System.

This proposal seeks to address the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the ACT criminal justice system. The causal factors of overrepresentation are multiple and interconnected, and as such cut across the whole of government. The proposal will have a beneficial impact across several wellbeing domains including health, safety, education and life-long learning, identity and belonging and governance and institutions.

Government Response to Petition E-PET 011-25 – Fix the ACT’s tree removal guidelines

Minute Number: 25/399/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the Government Response to Petition E-PET 011-25 regarding the ACT’s tree removal guidelines.

The ACT Government response to E-PET 011-25 defends the ACT’s tree removal guidelines by highlighting the critical role of urban trees in enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, public health, and community wellbeing. The response demonstrates the appropriateness of current risk management practices and argues that removing trees outside the current approval criteria would unnecessarily impact the environmental benefits provided by Canberra’s urban canopy. Tree retention and maintenance helps to reduce heat-related illnesses, childhood asthma, and energy costs, while also protecting infrastructure during extreme weather. This response supports maintaining current protections for urban trees to ensure long-term environmental, health, and economic benefits for the Canberra community, whilst employing a responsive and evidence based approach to the removal of dangerous trees.

Government Response – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre – Board of Inquiry – Assembly Resolution of 7 May 2025

Minute Number: 25/373/CAB

Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Corrections present a Ministerial Statement to the Legislative Assembly as the Government Response to the Assembly resolution of 7 May 2025 relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

In accordance with the ACT Cabinet Handbook, a Wellbeing Impact Assessment is not required for this item.

Inquest into the death of Peter Hanisch – Government Response

Minute Number: 25/281/CAB

Cabinet agreed that the Minister for Health table Coroner Archer’s report, a Government Response and Ministerial Statement in the Legislative Assembly following the inquest into the death of Peter Hanisch as required by the Coroners Act 1997.

The Government Response to these coronial findings aims to implement guidance as to peer review systems and procedures for imaging services provided with CHS and by private providers providing such services on behalf of CHS. CHS does not foresee a disproportionate impact to any groups including gender groups or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of this submission.

Appointments

Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:

• Appointments to the Therapeutic Support Panel for Children and Young People Minute Number: 25/390/CAB

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