Month: December 2025

Released 01/12/2025

From today, eligible ACT families can apply to access a one-off payment to help cover 2026 education expenses through the ACT Government’s Future of Education Equity Fund. The Equity Fund supports students from preschool through year 12 in all ACT schools.

The Equity Fund supports families with low incomes in accessing education essentials such as book packs, uniforms, excursions, sports equipment and activities, tuition and music lessons, so that students have the resources needed to engage fully in their education and wellbeing.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood, Yvette Berry, said the Equity Fund is about supporting Canberra students to have equal opportunities to participate fully in their schooling.

“The Future of Education Equity Fund helps families to manage back-to-school costs so that their children can start the year with the items they need,” Minister Berry said.

“Opening applications from 1 December 2025 supports families to address cost-of-living pressures before the 2026 school year begins.

“We are committed to supporting every child in Canberra to fully engage with their education, no matter their background. This Fund eases financial pressures on families, so students don’t miss out on school experiences such as excursions, sports activities, and music lessons.”

In 2025, the Fund has provided more than $3.7 million to more than 6,200 students and in 2024 provided more than $3.4 million to more than 5,800 students.

Families can apply for all eligible students in the one application, regardless of whether they attend different schools. Payments from the 2026 Equity Fund will be made from December 2025 for eligible completed applications.

Payments for the 2026 school year are:

• $400 for preschool students
• $500 for primary school students
• $750 for high school and college students.

Applications for the 2026 Equity Fund will remain open until the end of November 2026.

For more information about the Equity Fund, or to apply online, visit the Get help with the cost of schooling page.

– Statement ends –

Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

Released 01/12/2025

The ACT Government has confirmed that when ANZAC Day falls on Saturday, 25 April 2026, the public holiday will be observed on the following Monday, 27 April 2026.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety Michael Pettersson said the decision ensures consistency across the Territory when an ANZAC Day public holiday falls on a weekend.

“ANZAC Day will always be commemorated on 25 April, and all commemorative activities will occur on the Saturday as usual.” Minister Pettersson said.

“Moving the observance of the public holiday to the Monday is an administrative change that doesn’t changing the meaning of ANZAC Day and moves it in line with other days of national significance.”

“Above all, ANZAC Day is one of the most significant days in our national calendar and is a time to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who fought.”

More information on ACT public holidays can be found on the ACT Government website.

– Statement ends –

Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases

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Released 29/11/2025

The ACT Government is progressing planning and legislative reforms to build more homes by driving jobs growth and strengthening productivity in the construction sector.

Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development Chris Steel said these reforms will simplify development assessment and building processes to ensure new homes can be built sooner without compromising on quality.

“Construction productivity is a key part of delivering our priority of enabling 30,000 homes for Canberrans by 2030,” said Minister Steel.

“To build more housing sooner we are streamlining planning building approval processes and reducing building costs.

“This will make it easier for applicants to build, whilst freeing up government resources to focus on assessing larger and more complex applications.

“Ideas, both big and small, have come from the construction industry to develop the ACT’s Construction Productivity Agenda,  all adding up to real productivity gains with cost savings for home owners.”

The first tranche of reforms identifies a few simple ways we can improve and streamline some of our processes to make things easier for consumers and industry alike.

Many of the productivity reforms involve improving how we run the planning approval system and include tightening up internal processes, consolidating tasks, and improving the effectiveness of existing resources.

“The agreed reforms under our productivity agenda will lead to better outcomes for all Canberrans with noticeably shorter timeframes for building and development to be assessments,” said Minister Steel.

The first stage of legislative reforms is being progressed over coming months and includes changes to:

• Make greywater piping requirements in new homes voluntary, with a direct cost saving of approximately $1,550 for homeowners
• Simplify energy efficiency upgrade requirements for extensions and renovations
• Recognise Passive House (PassivHaus) certification as a compliance pathway for energy efficiency requirements of new homes
• Expanding exempt development for low-impact minor building works and the types of development which can apply for an exemption declaration.

“Since the Millenium drought, there has been a requirement to install greywater pipework in all new houses in the ACT, but very few homes have actually installed grey water systems. This an example of a well-intentioned requirement that has come at a significant cost with very few benefits realised,” said Minister Steel.

“Making grey water piping installation voluntary is just one measure proposed in our broader reforms that will make housing simpler to build and more affordable.”

Further tranches of reforms under the Construction Productivity Agenda will be brought forward in 6 monthly stages and will focus on improving productivity to support housing and economic outcomes, strengthening the resilience of the construction sector and ensuring new homes are delivered to high standards within a timely manner.

The ACT Government is also working under National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement and the associated ACT Jurisdiction Specific Reform Plan which was recently agreed by ACT Treasurer, Chris Steel, and Australian Government Treasurer, The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP.

The ACT Government has committed to a range of actions under the ACT Jurisdiction Specific Reform Plan to be progressed in coming year. This includes projects which will:

• limit anti-competitive objections to development
• remove anti-competitive considerations from planning, rezoning and development processes
• expand the range of permissible land uses
• streamline criteria and processes for development assessment and rezoning
• support the uptake of modern methods of construction (e.g. prefabricated and modular construction).

For more information on the National Competition Policy including the ACT Jurisdiction Specific Reform Plan, visit the Treasury website.

– Statement ends –

Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases

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