Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

None . . Page.. 1334 ..

that in many instances they are overweight and have real problems, and we need to get them active and, ideally, active in something they are going to enjoy. They might then be encouraged to continue the activity into later life, and we will avoid the problems that some of us may have had when we went through school.

The department is currently finalising its draft implementation series of options. As I have indicated, those will be put out for formal consultation with all the stakeholders, and I would welcome contributions by members of this Assembly. This is a terribly important area. What is more important than the health of our children? It is recognised by all governments as being one of the eight key learning areas.

Mr Berry: But 200 minutes of compulsory sport?

MR STEFANIAK: That was a quite sensible recommendation by Moneghetti, but let us see what the Department of Education comes up with. Let us see what further discussions reveal as to the best system to implement in the ACT and what can best achieve our aims. The Government is keen to get something up and running that works, and works well.

Mr Berry: Where is your courage? Have a proper inquiry. Do not base it on your ideology, Bill. Have a proper inquiry that looks at the facts.

MR STEFANIAK: We have had a number of inquiries. How many inquiries do you want, Wayne? We can have inquiry after inquiry after inquiry and do absolutely nothing, and that is the problem. You want to cover up your inactivity. Let us do something now.

Mr Berry: You are locked into a compulsory school sport ideology. You have a mind-set on it.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Could we have the Marquess of Queensberry rules.

MR STEFANIAK: I do not have a long enough reach for that, Mr Speaker; nor has Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: I will stop gouging if he stops scratching.

MR STEFANIAK: As long as we do not knee each other in the head, Wayne.

MR SPEAKER: Continue, Minister.

MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let us actually do something now. There has been a lot of input, a lot of surveys, a lot of reports, a lot of work done this year, which have highlighted a number of problems and a number of points we have to look at in terms of implementing any plan. Ms McRae has raised a number of points, which of course are considerations in terms of anything we do; we realise that.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .