Cabinet decision summary for the week of 10 July 2023

Cabinet date: 13 July 2023

Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 – Policy Approval

Minute Number: 23/49/CAB

Cabinet agreed to drafting of the Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, the next in a series of bills to maintain and improve the operation of the ACT’s tax laws. The focus of this year’s bill, as per the previous bill, will be to update landholder duty arrangements under Chapter 3 of the Duties Act 1999.

The submission supports the ACT economy by promoting the effective and efficient operation and integrity of the ACT tax system.

ACT Small Business Strategy

Minute Number: 23/298/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the release of the ACT Small Business Strategy.

The ACT Small Business Strategy will positively impact employment, income equality, business performance and economic diversity and benefit Canberra’s entrepreneurs and small business owners/operators.

Government Response – Standing Committee on Planning, Transport, and City Services – Report No. 13 – Inquiry into Giralang Shops – Final Report

Minute Number: 23/412/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Government Response to Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services – Report 13 – Inquiry into Giralang Shops

There is local community interest in the realisation of a development outcome at the Giralang Shops site. The Government response outlines the Government’s objective to provide certainty about when a vibrant local shopping centre will be realised at the site.

Government Response to Petition 7-23 – Traffic Management for the Grove Retirement Village

Minute Number: 23/444/CAB

Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to Petition 7-23 to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The response to the Petition lodged by Mr Michael Petterson MLA provides information about traffic management at the entrance to the Grove Retirement Village.

ACT Government submission to National Children’s Commissioner project on youth justice and child wellbeing reform

Minute Number: 23/506/CAB

Cabinet agreed the ACT Government submission to the National Children’s Commissioner project on youth justice and wellbeing reform across Australia.

The ACT Government submission to the National Children’s Commissioner project on youth justice and wellbeing reform across Australia will have a positive impact in the ‘governance and institution’ and ‘safety’ wellbeing domains. The submission demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to ongoing reform of the youth justice system, with a focus on targeted services that respond to complex needs and underlying trauma through early support and diversion.

Omnibus Federation Funding Agreements (FFA) – Health Schedules

Minute Number: 23/037/CAB

Cabinet agreed funding associated with the following Federation Funding Agreements (FFA) and Project Agreement be passed on to the health portfolio following signature by the Minister for Health:

• FFA – Health – Communicable diseases of public health concern – Access to HIV treatment for people who are not eligible for Medicare;
• FFA – Health – Public Dental Services for Adults;
• FFA – Health – Surge Capacity for Breastscreen Australia;
• FFA – Health - Newborn Bloodspot Screening Expansion;
• FFA – Health - Worker Screening Design Support;
• FFA – Health - Increasing Stillbirth Autopsies and Investigations; and
• Project agreement for Specialist Dementia Care Program.

The main wellbeing domain is Health, with the following impacts:

• Communicable diseases of public health concern – Access to HIV treatment for people who are not eligible for Medicare: increasing access to HIV treatment for individuals who are Medicare ineligible;
• Public Dental Services for Adults: to provide continuity of general dental services in the ACT particularly for the vulnerable groups;
• Surge Capacity for Breastscreen Australia: to target 48,438 women aged between 50 and 74 years to catch up with screening activity missed during the COVID‐19 pandemic during the period of the agreement;
• Project agreement for Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP): expanding specialist clinical advice and support (psycho-geriatrician/geriatrician) to the second unit at Uniting Eabrai for SDCP clients;
• Newborn Bloodspot Screening Expansion: to detect certain rare metabolic disorders and genetic conditions in all newborn babies;
• Worker Screening Design Support: to establish a robust national registration scheme for personal care workers in the aged care sector; and
• Increasing Stillbirth Autopsies and Investigations: to improve access to stillbirth autopsy services including bereavement support.

Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 – Policy Approval

Minute Number: 23/49/CAB

Cabinet agreed to drafting of the Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, the next in a series of bills to maintain and improve the operation of the ACT’s tax laws. The focus of this year’s bill, as per the previous bill, will be to update landholder duty arrangements under Chapter 3 of the Duties Act 1999.

The submission supports the ACT economy by promoting the effective and efficient operation and integrity of the ACT tax system.

Update to Cabinet on approach to responding to Coronial recommendation from the Inquest into the Death of Christaan Adriaan

Minute Number: 23/450/CAB

Cabinet agreed to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs leading the Government response to the Coroner’s Report on the inquest into the death of Christiaan Adriaan Roodt.

Responding to the Coroner’s recommendations and providing information on the broader work being undertaken by the Education Directorate to enhance safety will improve safety for children and young people in our public schools and improve community confidence that the Directorate has strong safety systems in place.

Update on Bargaining for Administrative and Related Classifications Enterprise Agreement – School Assistants

Minute Number: 23/542/CAB

Cabinet agreed a future funding decision to provide the Education Directorate funding to offset the costs associated with finalising bargaining for the ACT Public Sector administrative and Related Classifications Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026.

Finalising bargaining for the ACT Public Sector Administrative and Related Classifications Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 will have major wellbeing impacts on the community in access to quality public education and in education outcomes.

Appointments

Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:

• Appointment of Official Visitors for the purposes of the Corrections Management Act 2007 (Minute Number: 23/387/CAB)
• Appointment of the Official Visitors Board Chair (Minute Number: 23/408/CAB)
• Appointment of Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court (Minute Number: 23/518/CAB)
• Animal Welfare Advisory Committee Appointment 2023 (Minute Number: 23/521/CAB)

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