19 September 2011 - Summary of Cabinet Outcomes

As part of the ACT Government's Open Government commitment, this document is a public summary of matters considered by Cabinet. It is not intended to be a detailed set of minutes and does not cover all matters considered by Cabinet. Among the matters not covered are materials considered in the formation of the ACT budget, commercial and industrial matters under negotiation as well as matters that would impact personal privacy, security and the ACT economy. Nothing in this document can be considered a waiver of the Government's executive privilege.

19 September 2011 - Summary of Cabinet Outcomes [ PDF 447.5KB]

Mitchell Industrial Fire Incident

Cabinet discussed the industrial fire at Mitchell on 16 September 2011. Cabinet requested that officials report back with further detail on the incident.

Government Responses to Assembly Standing Committee Inquiries into 2009-2010 Annual and Financial Reports

Cabinet agreed the Government responses to six Standing Committee Inquiry reports on the 2009-2010 agency annual and financial reports. There are 90 recommendations across the six Committee reports and of these 38 are agreed, 6 agreed-in-principle, 4 agreed-in-part and 33 noted. There are 9 recommendations to which the Government does not agree. The Government's response is available via the ACT Legislative Assembly Committees' website.

National Partnership on Improving Public Hospital Services

Cabinet agreed the next iteration of the ACT's annual Implementation Plan for this National Partnership which provides facilitation and reward capital along with recurrent funding for elective surgery targets, a National Access Guarantee for elective surgery and four hour emergency department access targets.

Government Position on Residential Tenancies (Minimum Housing Standards) Amendment Bill 2011

Cabinet agreed the Government's position to not support the amendment bill on the basis that it would have adverse effects on the private rental market through large implementation costs borne by the landlords and passed onto renters, which in the longer term could act as disincentives, reduce supply and force rental prices upwards. The Government proposes a review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 which will include an analysis of existing rental stock and options to improve the standard of rental properties.

ACT Government's Response to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Estimates 2010 'Estimates Style' Hearing Report

Cabinet agreed the Government's response to 30 recommendations from the 'estimates-style' hearing process held in September 2010. The hearing was between senior Government officials and the Elected Body. Of the 30 recommendations, 19 are agreed, five are agreed-in-principle, five are noted and one is not agreed.

Open Government Ministerial Statement

Cabinet agreed a statement in response to a resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly in April 2011 on Open Government. The statement is available via the ACT Legislative Assmebly Handsard.

Poverty Impact Analysis Ministerial Statement

Cabinet agreed a statement in response to a resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly in April 2011 on the Cost of iving which also covered triple bottom line and poverty impact analysis of Government policies. The statement is available via the ACT Legislative Assmebly Handsard.

Education and Care National Law Bill Package

Cabinet agreed the Children and Young People (Education and Care Services National Law) Consequential Amendment Bill 2011 be tabled in the Assembly as part of a number of complementary legislative changes to enable the ACT's participation under the National Quality Framework, scheduled to commence on 1 January 2012. The package is available via the ACT Legislation Register - Bills.

Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Bill 2010 Package

Cabinet agreed the Working with Vulnerable People Consequential Amendments Bill 2011 be tabled in the Assembly. The package provides the legislative basis for establishing a statutory background checking and risk assessment system to reduce the incidence of sexual, physical, emotional or financial harm or neglect of vulnerable people in the ACT. The package is available on the ACT Legislation Register - Bills.

Appointments

Cabinet endorsed the following appointments:

Sentence Administration Board

The Police Appointment is the Superintendent of Prosecution and Judicial Support for a period of three years commencing on 13 October 2011, with the alternative appointment being the Officer in Charge of Prosecution and Judicial Support.

2011-2013 ACT Disability Advisory Council

Chair - Mr David Long, Deputy Chair - Ms Louise Bannister, with Ms Mary Webb, Mr Peter Granleese, Ms Sue McIntosh, Ms Mary Hodges, Mr Phillip Brown, Ms Lauren Kish and Ms Sherrill Bell as members.

Secretary to Cabinet