29 May 2023
Cabinet decision summary for the week of 29 May 2023
Cabinet date: 30 May 2023
2022-23 Capital Works Program Quarterly Progress Report – 31 March
Minute Number: 23/018/CAB
Cabinet agreed to circulate the 2022-23 Capital Works Program Quarterly Progress Report – 31 March 2023 to members of the ACT Legislative Assembly by 30 May 2023 as required under Section 30F of the Financial Management Act 1996.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Formal recognition of War Widows Day by ACT Government
Minute Number: 23/138/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Veterans and Seniors present an Executive Motion to the ACT Legislative Assembly to designate 19 October as War Widows Day.
Cabinet agreed War Widows Day would have a direct and sustained positive impact supporting identity and a sense of belonging for the ACT’s war widows.
Government Response to Inquiry into the Road Safety and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bills 2022
Minute Number: 23/291/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Government Response to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety Inquiry into the Road Safety and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bills 2022
The Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 makes changes to amend the road safety legislation to improve road safety by strengthening the reporting and monitoring of driver licence holders’ fitness to drive and provide enhanced penalties to deter dangerous driving behaviours. The Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 makes several amendments including creating a new offence of unauthorised entry of a motor vehicle.
2022 Review of the Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011
Minute Number: 23/304/CAB
Cabinet agreed the ACT Government Response to the Recommendations of the 2022 review of the Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011.
The Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011 seeks to promote the establishment of the renewable energy industry and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the Territory’s GHG reduction targets and the 100% Renewable Energy Target. This benefits not only ACT residents, but also residents in jurisdictions where renewable electricity generation has been developed, including South Australia, Victoria and NSW.
National Strategy for Identity Resilience
Minute Number: 23/309/CAB
Cabinet agreed to endorse the proposed public version of the National Strategy for Identity Resilience.
This proposed National Strategy for Identity Resilience will have positive impacts on a variety of wellbeing domains, principally Safety, through the development and adoption of national standards and practices to support Canberrans to have a more resilient identity to enable interactions with governments and business to be seamless and secure.
Zero Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra - Ministerial Statement
Minute Number: 23/368/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services deliver a Ministerial Statement updating the Legislative Assembly on the Zero Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra.
As part of the Territory’s commitment to a zero-emission future, Transport Canberra will replace their fleet of ageing and non-DDA compliant Buses with leased lower emission diesel vehicles and Battery Electric Buses (BEB). By reducing the carbon footprint of our
bus fleet in supply and operations, the Territory contributes to less greenhouse emissions, and potentially increased resilience against the effects of climate change. By establishing the infrastructure and equipment for use in zero-emission public transport and replacing
existing fleet assets, the Territory will provide a direct and sustained impact on the environment and climate.
Independent Review into the over-representation of First Nations people in the ACT criminal justice system
Minute Number: 23/369/CAB
Cabinet agreed to an independent review into the overrepresentation of First Nation’s people in the ACT justice system.
The ACT Government’s Review into the overrepresentation of First Nations people is seeking to contribute to a range of wellbeing impacts, including ensuring that Canberrans are, and feel, safe and included in the community, and can participate on equal terms,
regardless of age, gender, cultural background or disability.
Asset Renewal and Delivery Option
Minute Number: 23/379/CAB
Cabinet agreed options to support the delivery of capital works projects and enhance the Better Infrastructure Fund.
The proposed approach will benefit the ACT community by supporting the delivery of capital works projects and enhancing asset renewal in the Territory. The approach will have impacts across all Wellbeing domains as it will support the delivery of all projects within the Capital Works Program and will have particularly strong impacts in the Governance and institutions and Economy domains.
Ministerial Statement - Legal Aid Cyber Security Attack
Minute Number: 23/397/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Attorney-General deliver a Ministerial Statement responding to the Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality – Report 7 – Inquiry into annual and Financial Reports 2021-22 as it relates to the knowledge gained from the Legal Aid cyber attack in late 2022.
The Ministerial statement itself will have a minor impact only. However, it is important that the ACT community is confident in the ACT Government’s ability to respond to a cyber security incident, and that as a result of the recent Legal Aid ACT cyber incident that the government will be better prepared into the future.
Night-time Economy – Agreement to Public Consultation
Minute Number: 23/402/CAB
Cabinet agreed to public consultation on the night-time economy.
The proposed approach to public consultation is expected to have positive and major impacts in the Governance and Institution and Economy domains for businesses, peak bodies and consumers in Canberra’s night-time economy, and minor positive impacts for the Access and Connectivity, Identity and Belonging, Safety, and Social Connection wellbeing domains.
Menstruation and Menopause Policy – Assembly Resolution of 13 October 2022 – Government Response
Minute Number: 23/469/CAB
Cabinet agreed the ACT Government response to the ACT Legislative Assembly resolution 'Menstruation and Menopause Policy – Assembly Resolution of 13 October 2022'.
The introduction of leave for employees needing time to practice self-care when experiencing symptoms of menstruation and menopause will positively impact on their health and wellbeing. It will promote gender equality, dignity and respect at work, acknowledging that there is no stigma or shame associated with natural personal experiences arising from menstruation and menopause. The impact will be major, as it will have a sustained and direct impact on over half of the ACT Public Sector workforce who will now have access to this new leave type.
Cabinet date: 4 June 2023
Executive Motion – World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day, 2023
Minute Number: 23/427/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety present an Executive Motion to in the ACT Legislative Assembly for World Day for Safety and Health at Work and International Workers’ Memorial Day.
This proposal positively impacts the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment to improving work health and safety outcomes in the Territory.
Government response – Petition EPET-22-027 – Replace the Monash Primary School oval for the community
Minute Number: 23/346/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs provide the response to petition EPET-22-027 to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly for tabling.
The proposal has a positive impact on education and life-long learning through the renewal of an important school resource.
Government Response to Petition 3-23 - Casey and surrounding areas (various matters)
Minute Number: 23/356/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the response to Petition 3-23 regarding ‘Issues of Concerns in Casey and surrounding areas’ 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.
Government Response to Petition 40-22 - Review and action plan for the road and pedestrian safety in and around the Harrison education precinct
Minute Number: 23/380/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for Transport and City Services provide the Government response to Petition 40-22 - Review and action plan for the road and pedestrian safety in and around the Harrison education precinct to the Clerk of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The response to the petition provides information about the approach being undertaken by the ACT Government to respond to pedestrian and traffic safety concerns in Harrison near Harrison School and Mother Teresa Primary School. The primary wellbeing domain is safety.
ACT Government submission to Senate Committee inquiry into the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 and Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 [Provisions]
Minute Number: 23/388/CAB
Cabinet agreed to lodge the ACT Government Submission to Senate Committee inquiry into the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 and Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 [Provisions] on 30 May 2023.
There are no direct impacts associated with the proposal as it is a submission to a Senate Committee inquiry. However, the submission provides an opportunity to raise the ACT Government’s concerns with the proposed Nature Repair Market and the two Bills introduced to Parliament. Concerns relate to potential impacts of implementation in the ACT and risks of further environmental decline should appropriate policy detail and compliance measures not be developed.
Ministerial Statement – ACT Disability Strategy Listening Report
Minute Number: 23/413/CAB
Cabinet agreed for the Minister for Disability to deliver a Ministerial Statement on the ACT Disability Strategy Listening Report during 31 May to 1 June sitting period in the Legislative Assembly.
In 2021, the ACT Government committed to the development of a 10-year ACT Disability Strategy (the Strategy). From April to August 2022, the ACT Office for Disability undertook community consultation to inform the development of the Strategy. This Ministerial Statement reports on the process of community consultation, and outlines the findings as reported in Towards a 10-year ACT Disability Strategy: Listening Report 2022 (the Listening Report). The Listening Report is anticipated to have direct wellbeing impacts in the domain of governance & institutions. The consultation informing the Listening Report gave Canberrans with disability, their family carers, and their supporters the opportunity to have their say and be listened to. The comprehensive nature of the Listening Report builds trust in government and demonstrates to the community that their voices and perspectives matter.
2023 World Environment Day – Ministerial Statement
Minute Number: 23/406/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment deliver a Ministerial Statement in recognition of World Environment Day that occurs on 5 June each year to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, no Wellbeing Impact Assessment was required for this item.
Executive Motion – Impacts and management for feral horses in the Australian Alps
Minute Number: 23/457/CAB
Cabinet agreed the Minister for the Environment present the Executive Motion about protecting the ACT from feral horses in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Feral horses, and in particular those located in NSW to the West of the ACT and in the Australian Alps are a threat to the ACT’s highly sensitive conservation and water supply areas. Feral horses degrade habitats and water catchments by foraging, trampling, spreading weeks and eroding stream banks. The ACT zero-tolerance approach to feral horses is critical to the protection of Namadgi National Park. The ACT Government will continue to take appropriate action to detect and control feral horses in accordance with the Namadgi National Park Feral Horse Management Plan 2020.
Appointments
Cabinet endorsed the below appointments:
- Legal Aid Commission Board Appointments (Minute Number: 23/200/CAB)
- Icon Water Limited Director Appointments (Minute Number: 23/442/CAB)
- Appointments to the University of Canberra Council 2023 (Minute Number: 23/443/CAB)
Under the requirements of the ACT Government Cabinet Handbook, Wellbeing Impact Assessments are not required for appointments.