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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2998 ..
MS TUCKER (continuing):
As adolescents delay seeking prescription contraception for an average of one year after initiating sexual activity, it is perhaps not surprising that half of adolescent pregnancies occur in the first six months of sexual activity. For this reason, and the fact that younger age is a strong risk factor for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection, effective prevention strategies must include young adolescents, ideally before they become sexually active.
I would be happy to give Mr Cornwell a copy of that report if he is interested in reading it.
Mr Cornwell was also concerned about the recommendation to have breakfast programs. I think it is a tragedy that children are not fed properly when, on the whole, society definitely has the resources to feed them. In my view the issue is not one of making the judgment, "Well, those parents are irresponsible, they need to take responsibility; we'll just let those little children who do not have the opportunity to have decent nutrition suffer the consequences because their parents are irresponsible."That is a particularly judgmental view which lacks compassion. It also lacks an understanding of the long-term consequences for society if little children do not even have that basic support.
We have made a recommendation about parent support and we have, of course, acknowledged the need to support families that are dysfunctional. (Extension of time granted.) Mr Cornwell, of course, has the right to take that judgmental attitude, but those people in the community who are interested in looking at not only what it is like to be a little child who does not get fed properly but also the broader societal consequences of not supporting such children, disagree with him.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Discharge of orders of the day
Motion (by Mr Wood, by leave) agreed to:That the following orders of the day be discharged from the Notice Paper:
No 4 relating to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment's Report No 13 on Draft Variation No 187 to the Territory Plan-Heritage Plan-Red Hill Housing Precinct.
No 5 relating to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment's Report No 14 on Draft Variation No 175 to the Territory Plan-Industrial B3 Land-Industrial Area Policies and definitions: Fyshwick, Symonston, Mitchell and Hume.
No 6 relating to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment's Report No 15 on Variation No 200 to the Territory Plan-Garden City Variation-Residential Land Use Policies, Modifications to Residential Codes and Master Plan Procedures.
No 10 relating the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment's Report No 17 on Draft Variation No 150 to the Territory Plan-Deakin Blocks 14 and 15 Section 36 (former Deakin Oval Sports Ground)-Proposed Residential and Urban Open Space Land Use Policies and Changes to the Public Land Overlay.
No 11 relating to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment's Report No 19 on Draft Variation No 210 to the Territory Plan - Deakin Section 35 Block 2 (site of
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