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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 1944 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Yes, institutions like that are difficult. There are always going to be problems in running them. That, unfortunately, is just the nature of institutions such as that. However, I am pleased to see that that review does indicate a way forward which will lead to further improvements at the Quamby Remand Centre.

In relation to Jigsaw, that company, as Mr Wood has indicated, has been providing theatre in education since 1984. You are right; it is 15 years Mr Wood. We first came to government in 1995. Jigsaw Theatre, at the end of 1995, won a tender for the theatre for our government school sectors. That period ceases at the end of this year.

The work of Jigsaw, as Mr Wood said, is certainly supported by teachers and the school community. They provide theatre experience, in case members do not know, for about 40,000 students during the term of the contract, and they cover students from kindergarten to college. Like Mr Wood, I have seen several productions. I found them not only entertaining but also very useful. I could see where the educational value could come from.

I understand that the Jigsaw managers have met recently with senior officers of the department to discuss the issue. They have submitted a proposal of services that they will offer to teachers and students, together with estimated costs. That proposal is currently being considered by the Government within our overall budget for government schooling. I expect that the department and those officers will be able to respond to their proposal in the near future. I think the main officer they spoke to comes back from leave at the end of this week, Mr Wood. As a result of your interest, I will be asking that officer how it is all going. I appreciate your comments in relation to the need for some promptness because they obviously have to make their arrangements for next year.

Mr Wood: So you think they do a good job, too?

MR STEFANIAK: I have been to a couple of performances and I have no complaints about what I saw, Mr Wood. I will, of course, take advice from my department on how it is all going. I must admit that I do not think I have seen one for about 18 months, but I have seen several of their performances, and I liked very much one in particular.

Mr Stanhope spoke of women in sport. This is a difficult problem, Mr Speaker. I think we have made significant improvements, and the ACT does lead the way. We have increased participation rates for women in the period from 1993, I think, to the end of 1996 from 22 per cent to 31 per cent. That is an increase of 9 per cent. We have the highest percentage of women participating in sport and recreational activities in the country. It is the highest by a very considerable margin.

One of our main aims is to increase that participation rate by women and girls. We have done a number of things over the last three or so years to do that. We have implemented the active women in sport program. I was going through some figures for Mr Quinlan as a result of that question he asked me yesterday, and I saw that $50,000 was allocated to the active women program which was aimed at getting more women involved in sport and recreational activities in 1997. We have significantly increased grants to women's sport.

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