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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2874 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

That is not the case. They are being taken very seriously and we are going about an appropriate process to implement the changes to get best practice rehabilitation, having made sure that we knew what best practice rehabilitation was. That is what the process has been about and that is what we are going to do.

Your specific question was: "Will you release the second report, the report done by Dr Mugford?". I have not read that, Mr Berry. I have asked for it to be brought to me. When I have read it, unless I have an overwhelming reason not to, I will certainly release it. I cannot picture why I would have a reason not to. If there is a matter of a personal nature in it, I will make it available to members of the Assembly and explain that problem, but certainly it is my intention, all things being equal, to release it.

MR BERRY: I ask a short supplementary question. Will the Minister advise me of his intentions once he has read the report? Will you let me know what you are going to do?

MR MOORE: Yes.

MR OSBORNE: My question is also to the Minister for Health, Mr Moore, regarding drug education. I did give him a little warning. Minister, what programs are currently available in the ACT, and how much money is spent on those programs, in which emphasis is placed on people either not to smoke or to stop smoking completely?

MR MOORE: Thank you, Mr Osborne. I met somebody from the Cancer Society who was giving a paper at the conference that I was at in Melbourne on the weekend. She gave me a copy of the program she runs. I think the title is "Quit. If you can't quit how to minimise harm". It was something to that effect. I understand that it is a very effective program. That is certainly one of the areas where it is done. Healthpact and the Department of Education have anti-smoking and education programs going on. At this stage I do not know the exact dollars being spent, Mr Osborne. I will certainly be happy to take that part of your question on notice.

I think it is important to understand that part of the whole smoke-free areas campaign, part of the program that Healthpact runs, which was started by Mr Berry buying out sports sponsorship and so forth, is really about educational issues. It is really about ensuring that people understand that smoking is not condoned; that we take a harm minimisation approach to smoking by discouraging people as strongly as possible from smoking. We will continue to do that. Mr Osborne, I will get back to you specifically on the dollars.

MR OSBORNE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Do you have any idea, Mr Moore, of what the success rates of these programs have been over the years, whether there has been a reduction in people smoking? Do you have any idea of the figures?

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