Page 2892 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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I think it is important that there should be some way of communicating with emergency services where the need arises. On the one hand, the immediate reaction could be that the Government ought to provide an emergency phone at every sporting ground in the ACT. I suspect that that would be a fairly expensive arrangement, but it is something that could be examined. On the other hand, I think sporting bodies have some responsibilities too. These days, with modern communications equipment, sporting bodies could easily provide some sort of car phone or portable phone. I am not committed to a particular course, although I am pleased that you raised it. I would have been even more pleased if you had raised it with the former Government, and I would be even happier if I had a definitive answer for you.
Mr Stefaniak: It became urgent only last week.
MR BERRY: There have been injuries and deaths on various playing fields before. Some sports recognise the dangers and have an ambulance follow them around. Harness racing and gallopers are two examples. I will certainly have a look at the matter and, if there is something that can be done, either in consultation with the sporting community or by the Government, I would be happy to do it. Again, I think you would agree that if we decided to put public phones or a free phone on every sporting ground it would be a fairly major exercise.
Stromlo High School
MR MOORE: My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. Questions you have received in this Assembly with reference to the Stromlo school have focused on the school itself. What are the community considerations that apply to the decision you need to make, particularly the planning, the social ramifications, including things such as vandalism, the ageing of the suburb and so forth? Will you be considering social and long-term economic views, or are you simplifying the issue in the same way that the Alliance Government did when it made its decisions on school closures?
MR WOOD: While I had left by that time, I understand that that meeting last night passed a motion that they wanted some wider consideration of education and social issues in Weston Creek. I will no doubt be advised of that motion. On Monday night at a meeting of the Weston Creek branch of the ALP - there was no connection between or in the genesis of those motions - a motion of that nature was raised. It is obviously a matter of concern to people in Weston Creek that a range of matters be considered.
Mr Collaery: How many people were at the branch meeting?
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