ACT library minister censured over weekend hours cuts
ACT Minister Tara Cheyne was criticized over library hours cuts. She committed to restoring weekend access from July 2027.
The ACT Opposition, Greens, and an independent member voted on Wednesday to censure Minister Tara Cheyne. The vote was about cuts to weekend library hours and mishandled seatbelt fines.
Opposition Leader Mark Parton said Cheyne failed to follow an earlier Assembly motion to keep libraries open. Tara Cheyne defended the cuts as unavoidable.
She said she put staff wellbeing first. She committed to restoring weekend branch access at Kippax and Erindale from mid-2027.
The government will decide the final form. The censure motion sits one step below a no-confidence motion.
A no-confidence motion would force a minister to resign. When Cheyne started, the nine libraries in her care were not reliable.
She acted on 37 recommendations. These included changes to opening hours and rosters.
- 9
- Libraries managed
- Kippax and Erindale
- Branches to reopen weekends
- July 2027
- Reopening date
- One step below no-confidence
- Vote type
Why it mattersA censure motion sends a strong parliamentary message. Opposition and crossbench members use it to show they disapprove of a minister's conduct. It damages her standing in a minority government.
AustraliaCanberra residents lost weekend library access at some branches but can expect restoration at two key locations from mid-2027; the broader question of ACT service delivery during budget pressures remains live.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 8 d ago
