Overview
The directorate, through Policy and Cabinet, provides advice and direction across the ACTPS on complex policy matters, incorporating a central agency coordination role in strategic planning, social and economic policy, regulation reform, regional policy and government information. The directorate supports the Chief Minister, Cabinet and its Subcommittees and the Head of Service as Secretary of Cabinet through the provision of policy and support, secretariat functions and advice. The directorate monitors the progress of government priorities as articulated through the government’s election commitments, the Parliamentary Agreement and strategic priorities.
CMTEDD provides secretariat support to the Policy Council. The Council comprises a Deputy Director-General representing each directorate. Similar to Strategic Board, it is intended that members take a whole of government (WoG), one service and strategic approach. Policy Council is chaired by the Deputy Director-General, Policy and Cabinet, CMTEDD.
The directorate supports the Chief Minister in representing the ACT at intergovernmental forums and manages and coordinates the ACT’s relationships with other jurisdictions and the Commonwealth. Most notably this includes:
- the Council of Australian Governments;
- the Council of the Australian Federation;
- the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors; and
- the Canberra Region Joint Organisation.
The directorate coordinates regulatory and process reform efforts across government.
Highlights
In 2018-19 the directorate:
- prepared the first annual progress report on implementation of the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse;
- prepared the government’s first LGBTIQ+ Strategy: Capital of Equality. The Strategy seeks to ensure LGBTIQ+ people, their families and communities are visible, valued and respected; and that the ACT has LGBTIQ+ inclusive and competent government services;
- supported the government’s involvement in meetings of the Council of Australian Governments, Council of Australian Federation and Council of Capital City Lord Mayors;
- supported the government to renew the ACT’s commitment to the Canberra Region Joint Organisation (CRJO) through the signing of the second ACT-CRJO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU);
- maintained the ACT-NSW MoU for Regional Collaboration as the principal engagement framework for regional and cross-border issues;
- established the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund to kick-start a long-term commitment to our local charities and community sector to support their important work and explore innovative solutions to meeting community needs;
- prepared new legislation and associated regulatory practices for the conduct of combat sports in the ACT, including an ACT specific registration scheme;
- conducted a further evaluation of the On-Demand Transport Industry Reforms in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
- delivered the Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of regulation and processes to strengthen the delivery of government priorities; and
- conducted two targeted reviews of agency recordkeeping performance through the Territory Records Office. One examined the extent to which agencies can support their staff to develop their records management capability. The second review considered agency processes for determining the retention requirements for their official records.
The directorate met all six accountability indicators against this output.
Future Direction
In 2019-20 the directorate will:
- create a wellbeing indicator framework in collaboration with ACT Government directorates and the Canberra community for release by the Chief Minister on Canberra Day 2020;
- continue to support Canberra to be the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming city in Australia by:
- coordinating development and implementation of the first WoG action plan under the LGBTIQ+ Capital of Equality strategy;
- delivering another round of the Capital of Equality grants program to empower grassroots initiatives to improve the lives of LGBTIQ+ people in our community;
- supporting the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council; and
- supporting community led events that improve social inclusion and raise visibility and awareness of LGBTIQ+ issues;
- deliver a Policy Innovation Team initiative aimed at improving policy design and evaluation capabilities across the ACTPS;
- provide government with advice regarding options for implementing Child Safe Standards across the Territory, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse;
- deliver a new ACT-NSW MoU for Regional Collaboration, which will contain strengthened mechanisms for bilateral collaboration, priority areas and specific actions, and improved governance;
- negotiate updated governance arrangements for the delivery of services to Jervis Bay Territory; and
- support the enactment of new legislation enhancing associated Land Titles regulatory practices for the introduction of e-conveyancing in the ACT.
Further information can be obtained from
Leesa Croke
Deputy-Director General
Policy and Cabinet
+ 61 2 6207 3751
Leesa.Croke@act.gov.au