Page 3421 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 13 October 1993
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Being usually 16 or 17, they are, of course, invincible. They think they are in no danger at all, as all 16- and 17-year-olds think; but they are in danger. That is why the Government has said that we cannot turn a blind eye to this law. We warn people to desist from this practice in their own interests. Incidentally, we have received a lot of plaudits from the Canberra community, particularly from elderly Canberra residents, who find the behaviour intimidating and threatening.
Entombment of the Unknown Soldier
MR CORNWELL: My question is to Mr Wood, the Minister for Education. Has consideration been given, by either granting them a holiday or facilitating their attendance at the ceremony, to providing ACT schoolchildren with the opportunity of attending the entombment of the unknown soldier at the Australian War Memorial on 11 November?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, very serious consideration has been given to that question. We had an approach from the RSL asking that we declare a school holiday for that day so that students could attend at the War Memorial. I think it is a highly significant occasion - we all acknowledge that - and one that the Government and the Education Department would want to respect in every possible way. I gave very serious consideration to it. In the end, in consultation with others, I might say - I did not take this decision myself - it was decided that it was not the best thing to do to make it a broad holiday for public school students in the ACT. I think you would understand some of the reasons for that. It certainly can be very disruptive to homes. There is no guarantee, in any event, that any number of students would attend the War Memorial. So, not lightly, but after earnest consideration, we made the decision that we would not declare a holiday.
We have been in discussion with the RSL about what we may do and how our schools and students may be represented at the War Memorial on that day. I have had a further approach - as all States have - from the Commonwealth Minister to incorporate children into that ceremony, and we will be cooperating in that way as well.
MR CORNWELL: I ask a supplementary question, to clarify a point. So, the matter of facilitating some attendance by ACT schoolchildren is still under consideration; is that correct?
MR WOOD: Yes. We will discuss with the RSL the best way to do that.
Fortune Theatre Site
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr Connolly. The Minister no doubt is aware of a departmental proposal to turn the former Fortune Theatre site into an unsurfaced car park. Members of the Renewal of Childers and Kingsley Streets group, or the ROCKS group, have proposed a temporary planting of the area on the basis that this is a much more environmentally sound and more pleasant option than a car park, and, further, that the current car parking in the area is already underutilised.
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