Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4680 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

other countries that HIV/AIDS is now moving far more broadly into the heterosexual community on other continents, and that this is something that has potential implications for Australia.

I will take the question relating to the quantitative figure on notice and provide that information to Ms Dundas.

MS DUNDAS: Thank you, Minister. Besides convening a forum, what are you doing to ensure that Canberrans do not suffer from safe-sex fatigue?

MR CORBELL: Sorry, suffer from what?

Ms Dundas: Safe-sex fatigue. HIV increases because people stop using condoms, because they do not think that safe sex is necessary.

MR CORBELL: There is no doubt that there has to be continual reinforcement of the importance of safe sexual practices to stop the spread of sexually transmitted disease. The government remains committed to using a broad range of mechanisms to continually reinforce that message. For example, the government, through ACT Health and the Department of Education, continues to provide funding for effective messages to be provided, especially to younger people through the ACT government school system. We are also working with organisations such as the Junction, which is a youth health service, to provide efficient and effective information.

The government currently has under consideration-as I do, as minister-a range of other measures that may further improve youth health services to other parts of the city, which will obviously include providing effective information about safe sexual practices.

Small business

MR CORNWELL: My question is to the Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Mr Quinlan. Will the minister confirm that the government believes that the promotion of employment in small business is a cornerstone of good economic development?

MR QUINLAN: As far as is practicable.

MR CORNWELL: I have a supplementary question. Do you also accept that the government should not unfairly disadvantage small business by providing it with inaccurate information during a tender or bidding process?

MR QUINLAN: I have answered it!

Mr Cornwell: Would you like that again?

MR QUINLAN: Same answer: as far as is practicable. Get to the example!

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .