Page 1525 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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Minister for Health. Is he aware of health propaganda being distributed in this building? Was the choice of the building deliberate?
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mrs Nolan for her question. I must admit that not only am I aware of the distribution of health propaganda but also I specifically requested that the brochure be distributed in the building. The brochure is this one, Mr Speaker, which I am happy to table. It is part of the eat a unit lunch program conducted by the Community Nutrition Section of the Department of Health. It is aimed at encouraging office workers and the like - and I suppose in a funny sort of sense we count as office workers - to eat a healthy, balanced meal in the middle of the day.
Mr Kaine: With a capital "O", Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: That is true - Office workers. This is achieved by organising one healthy meal under $5 at most eating places near the building in question and distributing a list of these meals and where to obtain them to all workers. Members will see by looking through this brochure that a number of venues near this building are listed here with meals of around $5 which are healthy. The program is in its formative stages following a pilot program last year, and the success of the exercise in this building will be part of the ongoing evaluation of the project. When I became aware of the eat a unit lunch program I immediately saw the value of the program to Assembly members.
Mr Berry: On a point of order; the question, as I recall it, Mr Speaker, asked whether he was aware of propaganda. I draw attention to 118.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. You are debating the issue. Please be brief, Minister.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, Mr Speaker. I am sorry that Mr Berry does not appreciate the important value that this might have to members of the Assembly. I did the quiz at the back, which gives you a score, and I got 22. I would be very interested to see what kind of health score Mr Berry can get when he does the quiz. I would encourage members to circulate this document to their workers and staff because the value of healthy lunches is not to be underestimated.
Hospital Redevelopment
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts, and it does not relate to what he had for lunch today. Since the announcement of the plan to close the Royal Canberra Hospital, has the Government costed any of the alternative
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