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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1699 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

I encourage members to avail themselves, whenever they are able to, of public submissions and read them, making sure that they take a keen interest in what people are trying to say. After all, that is the only way we are going to know what is going on in the big wide world. There is also a transcript of the six days of public hearings, which saw further input from no less than 47 individuals. Again, people have given up their time because they feel it is a subject worthy of debate. I think it has been a healthy time to bring out some of the points mentioned in the report.

The report has been well referenced and footnoted. Many of the submissions are set out in great detail, providing useful background material on many subjects, which, quite frankly, are new concepts to many of us. It should be noted, though, that a mere handful of primary schools out of the 93 in the ACT were consulted, which is a little bit of a skew. That is an area I have a problem with-where some of the information has come from. It is a little bit out of left field.

As they say, hindsight is a great gift. Having sufficient time now to digest this report, I am concerned by some areas, not least of which the suggestion of condom vending machines in our schools and particular high schools. This to me presents some very serious challenges regarding the possible condoning of underage sexual intercourse and activity within our schools. I know Ms Tucker says that sexual education does not promote this; I just have a big worry. As a parent I have a worry about some of these areas and where they are leading to legally. I am sure that my learned colleague Mr Stefaniak will want to add to that.

The World Health Organisation defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity". I agree. Wouldn't much more use be served by educating our children about relationships and the consequences, both physically and mentally, of promiscuity? I have a problem here.

Ms Tucker says that sexual education is not good in our schools, and I agree. But I think there is a very skewed balance. Why aren't we promoting the alternatives as heavily? We get told we are bigots, homophobes and that it is draconian. Well, I am fed up with hearing that. We need to be promoting a balanced approach. If we are going to do it at all, let's balance it. That is my aspect on that.

As I say, it is a view seen as draconian and old-fashioned by some in this place. However, I refuse to bow my knee to the fact that it is wrong to have this viewpoint. I believe that many people enter into sexual or physical relationships ill prepared mentally. There seems to me to be something terribly wrong with our society today. We live in a time when we can just throw our hands up in the air and say, "Oh well. Children are sexually active at a younger age."

I know that some in this place believe that putting such things as condom machines in schools will prevent people from contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and I understand Ms Tucker's standpoint on that. On face value it is possibly true, but it still does not make condom vending machines in high schools legal. Sex is still illegal under the age of 16 in this country, as far as I am aware. I am confused about how that would work legally, as well as all the other areas.

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