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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (14 October) . . Page.. 3208 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

As a by-product of that, the primary emphasis on portfolio fades somewhat into the background, because the structure of the Chief Minister now taking an overarching responsibility and particular portfolios being changed means that the previous structure is not workable. The gymnastics to make it work should be addressed, to the point where we have a structure or a nomenclature and terms of reference that suit the administrative orders. I hope that, with the work that your committee has done, Mr Speaker, and with the work that my committee has done, if they come together we can rather simplify the problem and it should go away as a function of that.

MR SPEAKER: I would like to add that I am aware that Mr Quinlan has written to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure. I hope we can examine the content of the letter at our next deliberative meeting on 3 November.

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (6.10): Last night I was privileged to be present with my wife, Robyn, at one of the most wonderful and genuine celebrations of life that it has been my pleasure to attend - the 1999 Bosom Buddies "Celebration of Life Fashion Event". Bosom Buddies is a Canberra organisation which was started five years ago by a group of friends, most of whom have suffered from breast cancer. Last night, at their fifth annual fashion parade, Bosom Buddies donated $3,000 to the Canberra Hospital's oncology unit for research into breast cancer.

In Australia, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In recent years, breast cancer has accounted for nearly 29 per cent of new cases of cancer in Australian women and 17 per cent of female cancer related deaths. One in 11 Australian women will suffer from this disease at some point in their lives. Every day in Australia another 20 women are diagnosed with the disease. Monday, 25 October is Australia's Breast Cancer Day. Breast Cancer Day, or Pink Ribbon Day, aims to raise awareness of this disease and, in doing so, to encourage early detection and intervention. The cause or causes of breast cancer remain unknown, but increased awareness means increased numbers of screenings for the disease, earlier detection of the disease and, consequently, fewer mortalities from the disease. Pink ribbons will be sold on Breast Cancer Day, the proceeds of which will go to breast cancer research.

The ACT Cancer Council will be holding a number of events during Breast Cancer Week to raise awareness of the disease. Mr Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support both Breast Cancer Day and Breast Cancer Week - and, incidentally, the Bosom Buddies Art Union raffle. Bosom Buddies is conducting an art union raffle of a house which has been built as a result of the energy of Bosom Buddies and with the help of numerous organisations from around Canberra. The house is almost complete. Bosom Buddies purchased the land, and they have now just about completed the construction of

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