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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2169 ..

MR WOOD: I am not sure that the Minister understood the question, but I will go on to the next point I want to raise in relation to this. Pupil-free days are very much a part of school-based development, curriculum and the like, all sorts of things. Are you intending this as a means of reducing what happens in that respect?

MR STEFANIAK: I hardly think that is the case at all; but, in terms of curriculum and development, these things are significantly affected, as Mr Wood would know, by the bans, Mr Speaker. Indeed, only last week he was lamenting about the effects of the bans, and that is one of the effects the bans are having. When this business is all over and done with, Mr Wood, those things will continue.

MS HORODNY: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico. You would recall, Mr De Domenico, from your previous term in the Legislative Assembly that the previous Government released in April 1994 a draft ACT bicycle strategy called "Canberra Bicycle 2000". More recently, an ACT cycling liaison group has been organised by the Department of Urban Services to liaise with other government bodies and community groups regarding cycling. Now that you are responsible for the Department of Urban Services, could you please advise when this strategy is going to be finalised and whether the delay in this finalisation is affecting the ability of the cycling liaison group to fulfil its responsibilities?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Ms Horodny for her question. In answer to the second part of the question, no, I do not think the delay is preventing the cycling action group from fulfilling its responsibilities. As to precisely when the final report will be ready, the answer to that is that I do not know. Once we make sure that all people who need to be consulted fully have been consulted fully, the Government will make the report available.

MS HORODNY: I have a supplementary question. Does the long delay in finalising the strategy indicate the low priority that this Government gives to cycling as a part of an integrated transport strategy?

MR DE DOMENICO: No.

MS REILLY: My question is to the Minister for Education. Minister, can you explain why you want to attack the award conditions of relief teachers? Is it really in the best interests of the ACT students to cut back on quality relief teachers?

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