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1. What was proposedPeter CainLiberal · Opposition
   Read the original wording (330 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) the Minister for City and Government Services announced last Friday significant changes to public library opening hours across Canberra; (b) the changes include the removal of Sunday and night time opening hours across the library network and the reduction of evening opening hours on weekdays; (c) libraries at Kippax, Civic and Erindale will lose all weekend access under the new arrangements; (d) public libraries provide important access to literacy, study spaces, internet services, community connection, children’s activities and safe public spaces for many Canberrans; (e) weekend and after-hours access is particularly important for working families, students, seniors and residents who cannot access library services during standard business hours; (f) many Canberrans already face increasing cost of living pressures and rely on libraries as one of the few remaining free and accessible public community services; and (g) reductions in access to public libraries risk disproportionately impacting outer suburban communities and vulnerable Canberrans; (2) further notes that: (a) the Government has framed these changes as a “redistributing” of opening hours despite the overall reduction in total accessible hours across parts of the network; (b) no clear public evidence has yet been provided demonstrating that the changes reflect community demand rather than operational cost-cutting; (c) ACT libraries are among the Territory’s most valued public services and should be strengthened, not scaled back; and (d) the changes were announced without a clear commitment that overall staffing levels, service delivery and community programming will be maintained or expanded; and (3) calls on the Government to: (a) immediately reverse the decision to abolish Sunday library opening hours across Canberra; (b) guarantee that every library branch retains some form of weekend access for local communities; (c) restore evening opening hours to ensure working families, students and commuters can continue to access library services outside standard business hours; and (d) rule out any reduction in frontline library staffing, community programs, literacy services or public access as part of these changes.

2. Proposed changeAndrew BraddockGreens · Crossbench12 June 2026

   Grouped by key words as: rewrote the proposal, added reporting or consultation, turned an action into a review.

   Before

   (3) calls on the Government to: (a) immediately reverse the decision to abolish Sunday library opening hours across Canberra; (b) guarantee that every library branch retains some form of weekend access for local communities; (c) restore evening opening hours to ensure working families, students and commuters can continue to access library services outside standard business hours; and (d) rule out any reduction in frontline library staffing, community programs, literacy services or public access as part of these changes.

   After this change

   (3) further notes that: (a) a library service is not measured by the visitation date but also the services it provides to vulnerable Canberrans; (b) visitation data is not the sole metric to be used for Government decisions on library opening hours and is also influenced by: (i) what programs and activities are scheduled and when; (ii) the regularity and consistency of opening hours; (c) making decisions based purely off visitation data will likely lead to a diminishing service for the Canberra community; (d) investment is required to improve the range of service offering and accessibility of the library service; and (e) the Independent Working Group’s work in developing the announced changes has addressed the issues identified including: (i) the previous rostering model was operationally inflexible and a source of inequity between staff; and (ii) the data substantiated the need to review library opening hours and days of operation to better reflect catchment demand and staffing capacity; (4) calls on all Members of the Assembly to: (a) express their appreciation to Libraries ACT staff and in particular the Independent Working Group for their work in improving the Libraries ACT service; and (b) acknowledge that calls to keep certain branches open for longer into the evening or weekend will require additional supplementation to resources; and (5) calls on the Government to: (a) rule out any reduction in frontline library staffing, community programs and literacy services as part of these changes; (b) prioritise the implementation of any-time collection of reserved items; (c) not reduce evening hours until implementation of any-time collection of reserved items; (d) ensure every Libraries ACT branch remains open providing accessible third spaces for Canberrans and that borrowing, collections, digital services, room bookings and regular library programs continue; (e) pause the implementation of any proposed hours changes until the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2026-2027; (f) provide the following additional information to the Assembly by the first sitting day of September 2026 on the proposed changes: (i) investigate conducting more programs and activities in evenings and/or weekends for the benefit of Canberrans who cannot attend a library during business hours; (ii) evaluate the accessibility of third spaces over the weekend across all Canberra regions to ensure Canberrans have fair and equitable access to third spaces should any branch not be open on a Saturday or Sunday; (iii) ensure branches remain available to support the community during heat, smoke or other emergency conditions, including activation as heat refuges when called on by the Chief Health Officer; (iv) specify the criteria or conditions on which Libraries ACT branches would be opened as a heat refuge; and (v) publicly publish the findings of Libraries ACT’s strategic review into operating hours; and (g) provide a business case for options to extend opening hours and locations above and beyond what was announced along with accompanying amendments to the Appropriation Bill 2026-2027 to allow for Assembly consideration and decision.

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit paragraph (3), substitute: “(3) further notes that: (a) a library service is not measured by the visitation date but also the services it provides to vulnerable Canberrans; (b) visitation data is not the sole metric to be used for Government decisions on library opening hours and is also influenced by: (i) what programs and activities are scheduled and when; (ii) the regularity and consistency of opening hours; (c) making decisions based purely off visitation data will likely lead to a diminishing service for the Canberra community; (d) investment is required to improve the range of service offering and accessibility of the library service; and (e) the Independent Working Group’s work in developing the announced changes has addressed the issues identified including: (i) the previous rostering model was operationally inflexible and a source of inequity between staff; and (ii) the data substantiated the need to review library opening hours and days of operation to better reflect catchment demand and staffing capacity; (4) calls on all Members of the Assembly to: (a) express their appreciation to Libraries ACT staff and in particular the Independent Working Group for their work in improving the Libraries ACT service; and (b) acknowledge that calls to keep certain branches open for longer into the evening or weekend will require additional supplementation to resources; and (5) calls on the Government to: (a) rule out any reduction in frontline library staffing, community programs and literacy services as part of these changes; (b) prioritise the implementation of any-time collection of reserved items; (c) not reduce evening hours until implementation of any-time collection of reserved items; (d) ensure every Libraries ACT branch remains open providing accessible third spaces for Canberrans and that borrowing, collections, digital services, room bookings and regular library programs continue; (e) pause the implementation of any proposed hours changes until the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2026-2027; (f) provide the following additional information to the Assembly by the first sitting day of September 2026 on the proposed changes: (i) investigate conducting more programs and activities in evenings and/or weekends for the benefit of Canberrans who cannot attend a library during business hours; (ii) evaluate the accessibility of third spaces over the weekend across all Canberra regions to ensure Canberrans have fair and equitable access to third spaces should any branch not be open on a Saturday or Sunday; (iii) ensure branches remain available to support the community during heat, smoke or other emergency conditions, including activation as heat refuges when called on by the Chief Health Officer; (iv) specify the criteria or conditions on which Libraries ACT branches would be opened as a heat refuge; and (v) publicly publish the findings of Libraries ACT’s strategic review into operating hours; and (g) provide a business case for options to extend opening hours and locations above and beyond what was announced along with accompanying amendments to the Appropriation Bill 2026-2027 to allow for Assembly consideration and decision.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Agreed. The Minutes don't print the final text, so we can't check the wording.

3. Change to Andrew Braddock's changeFiona CarrickIndependent · Crossbench12 June 2026

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point, added reporting or consultation.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Mr Braddock’s proposed amendment: After paragraph (5)(f)(ii), insert: “(iii) identify which libraries will provide after-hours access; (iv) provide an assessment on the impact on services and amenities from relocating Access Canberra into the Woden library; (v) provide an update on planning for the Molonglo library and report back to the Assembly by the last sitting in September 2026;”. Debate continued. Adjournment negatived: It being 6.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the Assembly do now adjourn. Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health) requiring the question to be put forthwith without debate

   Not agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded.

4. What the Assembly decidedOutcome not captured