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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 4096 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

you say, postponed. I honestly do not know when it will be called, but I will make some inquiries about that.

MS TUCKER: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I think you may have just said this but I did not hear you properly. Can you assure the Assembly that you will make sure that the meeting of the maternity services planning committee occurs very soon?

MR STANHOPE: Yes. I will take advice on what is planned, Ms Tucker. But I have no issue around it being convened as soon as possible.

Australia Day Council

MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the minister for the arts and urban services, Mr Wood. Minister, for many years, the Australia Day Council in the ACT has run an excellent event in Commonwealth Park. I think those of us who have been members for a while are well aware of that. You, Minister, and a lot of other people have been to that event over many years. In previous years, successive governments have given that body funding towards the event.

The ACT Australia Day Council, headed by Marjorie Turbayne, applied for a grant some months ago. I understand they applied for a grant of $50,000. At the present time, they have not received confirmation as to whether their application has been successful and, if so, what they will be given. Given that Australia Day is only weeks away, time is running out.

Will you be giving the Australia Day Council in the ACT any assistance for this wonderful event?

MR WOOD: As to whether I am giving it, the answer is yes-there is support coming. I signed off the approvals last week. Yes, they applied for $50,000 and they are getting a very substantial amount. I expect the cheque is in the mail.

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. When will they be advised? There are a number of events planned which are time critical. They need to know what they are getting, pronto, so that the event can go ahead. Mr Wood, when will they be advised? Will you undertake to contact them and advise them?

MR WOOD: I will deliver it myself! It was last week that I signed these things off. I would think it should be any moment. I would guess it is in the mail now-or that the process is under way.

Multicultural and community affairs brochure

MR CORNWELL: My question is also to Mr Wood, the minister for urban services. Minister, I refer to a brochure being distributed by the multicultural and community affairs group of the Chief Minister's Department. It relates to racial vilification. It states, as a suggestion-and may I say an extraordinary one:

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