Open Government - Summaries of Cabinet Outcomes

Cabinet is the peak decision-making body of the ACT Government.

Cabinet usually meets weekly to discuss matters that have significant implications for the Territory, communities, business and individuals. It makes critical decisions on topics such as law reform, significant policy initiatives, release of discussion papers, and intergovernmental agreements, as well as important appointments to government boards and committees.

The ACT Cabinet currently consists of the Chief Minister and three Ministers, who make collective decisions following confidential discussions.

Release of Summary of Cabinet Outcomes

From July 2011, the Government has taken a policy decision to undertake a "proactive" release of Cabinet information. This initiative forms part of the Government's wider open government agenda, designed to make government information more readily available to the community.

Many Cabinet decisions are announced by Government and Cabinet material may have already been publicly released. For example, Ministers also release information about Cabinet decisions relating to their portfolio through media statements or statements to the Legislative Assembly which are published in the Hansard available on the Legislative Assembly website

Summary of Cabinet Outcomes

• February 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011

Cabinet Confidentiality

Cabinet is bound by a collective responsibility which means Cabinet decisions are binding on all Ministers as government policy. To fulfil their responsibilities, Cabinet Ministers must have frank, confidential discussions to resolve issues.

Material that would reveal the confidential discussions of Cabinet and undermine the collective responsibility of Cabinet will not be posted on this website. Therefore, Cabinet material will appear in the form of summaries of outcomes.

Cabinet material that, if revealed, would prejudice security or public safety, intergovernmental relations, the Territory's economy or development of the ACT's Budget, material relating to sensitive negotiations, the competitive commercial activities of an agency or a third party, or personal information will not be released on this website. Therefore, the information contained on this website is not an exhaustive list of material considered by Cabinet.

Due to the complexity of some issues, Cabinet may consider a matter on a number of occasions. As a general rule, only a summary of the final outcomes of Cabinet are released.

Executive Document Release Provisions

Executive Documents Release provides for the public release of Cabinet papers ten years after they have been considered by Cabinet. The list of accessible Executive Documents required by the Act is produced by the Cabinet Secretariat and updated on 1 July each year. Requests for access to Cabinet papers under the Territory Records Act 1992 are coordinated by the Cabinet Secretariat.

Information on the Accessible Executive Documents is available on CMCD Publications.

Cabinet Secretariat

Cabinet is supported by Cabinet Secretariat for more information on queries on the Cabinet process or accessing cabinet outcomes please email: cabinet@act.gov.au or the Director, Cabinet and Intergovernmental Relations.