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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1073 ..

provide in this area through the next budget round. In terms of what we are doing within schools, we are keeping that going, but we have lost some of those services.

MS DUNDAS: Minister, can you specifically clarify whether condoms are freely available in our schools at the moment or are only being offered through programs as part of the curriculum?

MS GALLAGHER: In some colleges they are available through the programs that the colleges run, such as the ones at the Bay and Tuggeranong college which have a health focus. In the high schools, our commitment was not to put in vending machines, but to allow for condoms to be distributed through training programs. I know that sex education programs are going on. I will check on whether condoms are being given as part of that. Certainly, that was part of the work that the Sexual Health and Family Planning services were doing. But we never said that we would distribute condoms through the schools.

Ms Dundas: You said that you would consult with the students about it.

MS GALLAGHER: Consult with the students but always, we have said, through the delivery of an education process. I will get back to you on that.

MR SPEAKER: Before calling Mrs Burke for the next question, I wish to point out that I have just been alerted to the possibility of the question Mr Cornwell asked being very much the same as one that he has on notice, question No 1409. I invite members to look at page 534 of House of Representatives Practice, which states:

It has been the general practice of the House that questions without notice which are substantially the same as questions already on the Notice Paper are not permissible.

I intend to follow that practice whenever I am on to it early enough, but I would ask members to look at the questions they have on notice before they ask questions in the house because action has already been put in train to answer them in various departments and ministers’ offices.

Mr Cornwell: The question was addressed to the Chief Minister, but I am not arguing with your ruling, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: The page goes on to say:

It is not relevant that questions on and without notice may be addressed to different Ministers.

I will be taking that course of action.

Transitional housing

MRS BURKE: My question is to Mr Wood, Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services. Last week my office spoke to a constituent who has recently been released from a prison sentence for minor crime. He has broken his addiction to heroin and now works with the police in a voluntary capacity, mentoring juvenile offenders to

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