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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1746 ..

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I do not think Mr Humphries is speaking personally as Gary Humphries. We want to hear from him only as the Minister. We do not want any misleading information from Gary Humphries. We want fair dinkum, straight, up-front information about the figures that I asked for in the question, and I want them by the close of business today.

MR SPEAKER: In that case we will move on to the next question. Mrs Littlewood, we will move on to the next question, if that is - - -

MR HUMPHRIES: I have not finished my answer, Mr Speaker, actually. The fact is that the creation of a $200,000 visitor information centre at Tidbinbilla will significantly boost visitor numbers in that place. I believe it will be a significant addition to the range of services offered to visitors at Tidbinbilla, and we will see a very substantial capacity, by Tidbinbilla, to be able to enhance the service it offers to visitors - domestic, interstate and international. That would be the best news that anybody who is interested in keeping visitor numbers up at Tidbinbilla could possibly want to hear.

Primary Schools - Sex Education

MRS LITTLEWOOD: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Children's and Youth Services. I note that the ACT Labor Party now has a policy to teach contraception in primary schools. Could you tell me what the Government's view on that is?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. Basically, Mrs Littlewood, the answer is that this Government does not have any intention of introducing teaching about contraceptives in primary schools. We believe it is out of place in primary schools. It is interesting, Mr Speaker, that there was a road poll conducted this morning on FM106.3 which indicated an incredible 98 per cent opposition to this proposal. However, I am sure that the ALP conference did not bother to consult with the voters. I also understand, Mr Speaker, that there was considerable division within the ranks of the ALP conference on this issue.

Ms McRae: Are you sure it is not taught now?

MR STEFANIAK: I will come to that.

Ms McRae: Are you sure it is not taught now, Minister? You had better be careful.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You had better be careful too, Ms McRae. You might not get a chance to ask a question if you continue to interject.

MR STEFANIAK: I wonder how the former Minister for Education and the current Opposition spokesperson voted on this issue. It is interesting, Mr Speaker. I would like to place before you an article which was in the Canberra Times on Sunday.

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