Page 858 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 March 1990
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heads for some time, and which, as I mentioned, Mr Berry passed on to me, I will be happy to announce to the Assembly or to the general public that it is resolved. I hope that Mr Berry gives more support to the resolution of serious industrial disputes than he has given to date.
Health Promotion Fund
MRS GRASSBY: Mr Speaker, I would like to ask a question of the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. At last week's sitting the Minister mentioned the establishment of a Health Promotion Fund. Apparently the procedure whereby a grant from the fund can be secured is a highly guarded secret, except for those who have received money with the patronage of the Minister. When will the Minister inform the Assembly of the details of this grant process and the organisations who were invited to have an input into the development of these procedures?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, once again the Opposition seems to have some trouble understanding the processes of government. The fact is that to establish the procedures whereby grants are made from the Health Promotion Fund on a proper ongoing basis it is necessary for legislation to be passed. This legislation, which Mr Berry knows all about, is in the process of being developed. I have already announced its terms. I have also announced that the Government will be establishing an advisory committee which will be used to advise the Government on appropriate allocations from that Health Promotion Fund. That is going to come as soon as the Government can organise it. There are considerable demands on our drafting services at the present time as members opposite are reluctant to admit, but this is a fact. As soon as that legislation can be prepared and made available, it will be, and the Opposition will have every chance to discuss it and consider it. It will explain there fully the procedures whereby the fund is established and the processes whereby people may make applications for grants. I hope that will satisfy all Mrs Grassby's questions at that time.
MRS GRASSBY: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. If this is true, is it not true that the Minister has already given away two grants? If so, how is it the procedure that he has just spoken about is at the point where he is able to give two grants away?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, Mrs Grassby is well aware that I have made two grants because I have announced both those grants in this place. I have announced a grant of $30,000 to the 1990 National Sprint and $20,000 to the 1990 Rock Eisteddfod. Mrs Grassby would be aware that the object of the fund is to buy our tobacco sponsorships in the ACT, amongst other things. Where a tobacco company has pulled out of a sponsorship deal with the Canberra Racing Club leaving that club unable to fill its obligations and in
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