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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (23 March) . . Page.. 674 ..
MR SPEAKER: No, it is not, any more than it is a breach of standing orders not to listen to the answer, Mr Berry.
MR STEFANIAK: You have mentioned youth programs and health programs. There is a wide range of programs on which the Government is already spending. We will also have the Chief Minister going off to a Premiers Conference shortly. I am pleased to see that the Prime Minister is saying that he wants to spend a fair amount of time at that conference talking about drug issues. I am also pleased to say that we might get some more money from the Commonwealth in relation to the drug education programs in schools. As well as that, Mr Berry, this Government is in the process of developing a budget right across the spectrum and there may well be some other initiatives in relation to this matter.
Mr Moore has just passed me something from the Department of Health and Community Care. For example, here is one on something dear to your heart, Mr Berry, as you were very proud of what you said you had to do in the First Assembly on tobacco. Research on the smoke-free areas public education program for the changes that came into effect in licensed premises in November 1998 cost $40,000. The previous business year, the smoke-free public and proprietor campaign cost $20,000. Here is one that affects schools. Tobacco education in the current business plan under the Tobacco Act is to cost $58,450. Thanks very much, Mr Moore. And there is more over the back, too. So, there is a wide range of programs, Mr Berry.
As I have indicated, we are developing a budget. I look forward with interest to the Prime Minister's statement, which is going to be earlier than our budget, to see what he will be doing and to see what the Territory will get from his greater emphasis, and rightful emphasis, on education programs.
MR KAINE
: Through you, Mr Speaker, my question is to the Attorney-General. Minister, on 26 February you were quoted in the Canberra Times as expressing outrage over an article, which some claimed to be a tongue-in-cheek article, in the ANU student magazine Woroni on how to avoid being arrested for drink-driving. You were quoted as saying that you believed the article to be "irresponsible and a threat to public safety" and "a clear incitement to break the law". In fairness to the editors of Woroni, Mr Speaker, I should make it clear that the article which so offended the Attorney-General contained two prominent disclaimers stressing, among other things, that drink-driving is stupid and dangerous to yourself and others. Woroni also accused the Attorney-General of barefaced - perhaps it was "barecheeked" - hypocrisy. Minister, in recent days another university student publication, the University of Technology of Sydney's Orientation Handbook, which is available in the ACT both in hard copy and over the Internet, published an article which gives, amongst other things, detailed instructions on how to inject yourself with heroin. Minister, having regard to this recent development and your recent history on matters like this, do you support the assertion by your colleague the Minister for Health and Community Care on local radio yesterday that this do-it-yourself
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