Page 186 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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The Government has a strong commitment to social justice and already has in place a number of initiatives to support families experiencing economic disadvantage. During the year we will explore further strategies to provide support to families in need and will take steps to ensure that such families are aware of the support available to them. As you can see, Madam Speaker, from the Government's perspective the focus of the International Year of the Family is on sustained, long-term effort to increase awareness of family issues, and to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of support for families. This is because families, of all descriptions, make a crucial contribution to our community.
This year is not just a Government effort. It needs community support to have a lasting impact. Every community group in the ACT has the opportunity to participate in and celebrate the International Year of the Family, and we will be encouraging community groups to stage community events and to tackle local issues throughout the year. A calendar of community activities and other significant dates will be published in tomorrow's edition of the Canberra Weekly. The Government has produced a booklet, "Focus on ACT Families", which lists services, programs and policies of relevance to families, along with contact telephone numbers. A summary of statistical information on ACT families also has been produced. Theme sheets have been prepared outlining the Government's initiatives which promote our themes for the International Year of the Family. All of the above material, as well as additional material on the International Year of the Family in the ACT, is contained in this information kit which I table, Madam Speaker, and which is also available from government shopfronts.
In closing, I should remind members that the emblem of the International Year of the Family - a heart sheltered by a roof, linked to another heart - symbolises families as providing warmth, caring, security, togetherness, tolerance and acceptance. These are precious assets in our society and something for which we all share a responsibility to nurture and develop. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to officially launch the International Year of the Family in the ACT. I present a copy of this statement, and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned.
SMOKE-FREE AREAS (ENCLOSED PUBLIC PLACES) BILL 1993
Debate resumed from 16 December 1993, on motion by Mr Berry:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (3.21): Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party supports legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places. Over the years those opposite, and I think everybody who has listened, would have heard Mr Humphries and me speak in many forums about the dangers of smoking, and the dangers of passive smoking as well. The Liberal Party changed its policy in, I think, 1990. The policy says, "The Liberal Party support a ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces". That includes restaurants, eating places and enclosed sporting events. It also includes shopping centres and so on.
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