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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 3 Hansard (28 May) . . Page.. 711 ..

Motion (by Mr Hird) agreed to:

That Executive business be called on.

Debate resumed from 21 May 1998, on motion by Mr Moore:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (12.06): Mr Speaker, the ALP is quite happy to support this piece of legislation. We recognise that, for the sake of the health of the Health Promotion Fund and the Health Promotion Board, new arrangements do have to be made for the funding of the board following the High Court decision that affected the imposition of tobacco franchising fees. In supporting the Bill - and I acknowledge the very significant work which the Health Promotion Board does - I repeat that the Health Promotion Board was, of course, an initiative of the Labor Party which, I understand, was very strongly supported at the time by Mr Moore, the current Minister.

I think it is relevant that we acknowledge the work this organisation does. I have been associated at different times with a number of organisations that actually have been able to provide what I regard as tremendous support to their communities and to the Canberra community through the assistance which they receive. I do believe, in terms of affecting understandings of lifestyle and attitudes to a whole range of health issues, the board is doing a tremendous job and really does deserve our continuing support. It is probably not necessary for me to say more than that, Mr Speaker, other than that I do note that the board is to have its funding adjusted in accordance with the CPI. I think that is a very good move as well. We accept the sense of this and look forward to the continuing role and involvement of the board with the Canberra community.

MS TUCKER (12.08): The Greens will be happy to support this Bill as well. I would also like to make just a couple of comments about Healthpact and the importance of its work in the ACT. I am also particularly interested to see more recently how it is moving out into the community in a way that it did not do before. We are not talking about just television advertisements or whatever. I believe health promotion does have to be closely aligned to community development. If we take that approach, then we will have an opportunity to bring about cultural change, which is what we are heading for. I think it is really important to encourage the initiatives. There may be an element of risk-taking in it; but we support that risk-taking because, if we try new and interesting ways of involving the community in this discussion, we can only win and find new ways to be effective.

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