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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3255 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

As we heard during previous debates on this issue in this place, there is ample evidence to show that if you are healthy you can do your school work better, you obviously have a lot more self-confidence and self-esteem, and you are less likely to get into trouble. There are just so many positive aspects of a good, healthy, physical lifestyle for young people. That is why this is so crucially important.

In the last few months we have seen scary figures that show the increase in the percentage of young people who are going to suffer from obesity and who will be at risk of heart attack in later life. This problem needs to be addressed and given a number one priority for the sake of our young people and, indeed, of society generally. What we are seeing threatens the very basis of what Australia is going to be like 20, 30, 40 years down the track, and we should be doing anything we can to assist in addressing this problem.

I am happy that Ms Tucker's committee is looking at a number of these issues. Obviously, things like healthy foods are very important and I know that that is something she is looking at. The first motion that came before the Assembly today called on her committee to also look at the adequacy of children's television standards, with particular reference to junk food advertising. I think that is a good reference.

I think it is terribly important that this program gets back on the rails. It is an integral part of a holistic approach which will assist in reducing levels of obesity and improving the health and physical wellbeing of our students. This is something that I certainly wanted to see happen in the government schools. I am disappointed that it has been slowed down and now put on hold, pending the report of the committee. I think the arguments are good enough to warrant the program being proceeded with, without it being put on hold to await the committee's report.

The program speaks for itself and there is a lot of information available. The process was started and it should have been completed. I think the program is worthy of support, as will be the case, obviously, with what comes out of Ms Tucker's committee. But I think the program can be dealt with separately from what is being done by the committee. I would certainly urge the government to restart the program. Don't put it on hold, because it is terribly important.

You really do need to do something because this is a huge problem now and it is not going to get any smaller. That is probably a very bad choice of words when you are talking about obesity, but this is such an important issue and the problem will get worse if something isn't done now.

Question put:

That Mr Corbell 's amendment be agreed to.

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