Page 2754 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994
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Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee
MR DE DOMENICO (5.21): On a day when everyone is talking about milestones and when Mr Stevenson, in referring to committees, said that politicians should not be looking after themselves but looking after the people, I am delighted to state that next Friday week the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee will meet for the 100th time. Whilst some people might say that politicians tend to look after themselves, I can assure Mr Stevenson - as can Mr Kaine, Mr Lamont, Mr Berry, Ms Ellis, Mr Cornwell and others who have been members of that committee, read the voluminous paperwork and sat through many public inquiries - that the public have indeed been well served by the process of self-government. This is a milestone that this Assembly can be very proud of.
Rip and Tear Theatre
MS ELLIS (5.22): I had the pleasure last night of representing the Minister for Housing and Community Services, Mr Lamont, at a function run on behalf of and by the Richmond Fellowship in the ACT. Whilst it was a very enjoyable function and it was terrific to see the fundraising effort on the part of that fellowship, something else came to my attention while I was there. It is linked with the National Festival of Australian Theatre which we are about to enjoy here in Canberra. It is important enough for me to bring it to people's attention in case they have not picked it up themselves.
Robyn Archer has to be congratulated on the incredibly broad program that she has been able to bring together in this theatre festival, but one of the important events is an item in the program that is going to be performed by the Rip and Tear Theatre from Burnie in Tasmania. For those who do not know, the Rip and Tear Theatre, as I found out last night, is a creation of a program funded by DEET - the Federal department - and by other means, and is specifically aimed at young offenders and young people with problems. Its success has been such that it can now rate as a legitimate part of a program such as that of the National Festival of Australian Theatre.
The Richmond Fellowship, which works with young offenders in the ACT, will shortly be going to Burnie with some of their trainers and some of their young people to learn first-hand the benefits of the sort of work being done by the Rip and Tear Theatre and to bring that expertise back here. I know that a lot of people in this place care very much about our young people, particularly those in this category that I am speaking of. I have taken steps today to make sure that I go along when this theatre company is here and see the sort of work they do. I encourage everybody in this place to seriously consider doing likewise. It sounds very much like an incredibly positive program to help youngsters who are having problems. I recommend that people take advantage of the opportunity. Mr Moore has just brought to my attention, and I think it is worthy of note, that Tina Van Raay was instrumental in bringing them to the ACT. I am happy to acknowledge that. I think that anything that anybody does to help young people in this area of need is to be commended. I hope that at some stage in the future we can all compare notes on what we thought of the performance of the Rip and Tear Theatre.
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