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There has been a view expressed in the ACT in the last few years which seems to say that there is no sport in school or it is entirely inadequate or there is very little of it. That is a view much expressed by ACTSport, and they are entitled to do it. They are a body to promote sport; so, if anyone is going to say it, they will. I had disputes with that body when I was Minister, and I did not believe on every occasion that they presented the case entirely accurately. Physical activity is very much a part of school life. As a consequence of that, it is well accepted now into the eight key learning areas. It is there, and as we redefine our school syllabus - a process that has happened and has now been incorporated into schools - sport will continue to occupy the role it always has. Sensationalising the issue, as occurs in the ACT from time to time, will not do anything to promote the cause.

Mr Berry made the point, by way of interjection, that participation in sport in the ACT is at a level higher than anywhere else in Australia. Something good must be happening to produce that data. It is unquestionably the case, so what is wrong? I would argue that, as with any area of study in our schools, we must constantly look to see how it may be further improved, and in this respect I would encourage the activity that Mr Stefaniak is now engaging in. He was not always so well advised. He rushed into this and came out with ill-considered ideas and, indeed, ill-defined ideas. People had trouble understanding exactly what he meant. It is only now that some of the details are emerging and it is only now that some of the discussion that ought to have occurred earlier is happening.

Mr Stefaniak's approach to this issue as Minister, I suspect, is rather like his approach to his much beloved rugby. I understand that he was a forward of some note, a line-outer and breakaway - is that the term, Mr Stefaniak?

Mr Stefaniak: Second rower.

MR WOOD: Second rower. The ball is there, and Mr Stefaniak's role was to get into that scrum, head down, tail up, and go for it; emerge from that and get into another scrum five metres away down the field. I suspect that when he came into this job his approach to this issue was much the same - get in there and, without a great deal of thought, go for the target and see what result comes out.

Mr Whitecross: He tackles them before they have the ball, though.

MR WOOD: He was setting out to scatter the opposition. He certainly did it with no regard for that much acclaimed word “consultation”, which his Chief Minister never stopped talking about in her days in opposition. He just went out there and did it. That consultation is now happening retrospectively.

Mr Stefaniak: Do not judge everybody by yourself.

Mr De Domenico: Bill sat in the back row of the stand.

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