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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1954 ..

support for providing information to young people in our schools about the risks associated with dangerous behaviour around drugs and alcohol.

Additionally, we will see that early intervention through school-based programs as an opportunity to use peer mentoring to teach young people about the risk factors and the potential to develop certain health conditions through inappropriate drug and alcohol use. Ten primary schools and 10 secondary schools will be targeted as part of that program. We will be capturing a large number of children and young people. It will also involve 50 teachers a year in professional development, giving the teachers the support they need also to deliver efficient and effective drug and alcohol education in schools.

The government does have a range of measures. I have simply sought to identify a number of them. The government is progressing a comprehensive program that is focused on harm minimisation as well as education.

MS MacDONALD: I have a supplementary question. I thank the minister for that information. Minister, can you advise the Assembly of what further initiatives specifically related to tobacco and Aboriginal health issues the government is undertaking to tackle drug issues?

MR SPEAKER: I do not think that that is related to the first question. That question was about drug and alcohol matters and you have strayed onto tobacco and Aboriginal health matters.

MS MacDONALD: Tobacco is a drug.

MR SPEAKER: It is, but the indigenous affairs matter is not related to the earlier matter.

Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Mr Speaker—

MR SPEAKER: It is not a point of order; it is a ruling.

Mr Corbell: Sorry, on your ruling, Mr Speaker: Ms MacDonald, as I understand it, has asked me a question about what other initiatives are being undertaken as they affect drug and alcohol programs for indigenous people and in the area of tobacco.

MR SPEAKER: I did not hear it in that way, but if you are prepared to take it in that way you can. I did not hear it in that way.

Mrs Dunne: On the ruling, Mr Speaker: this is something that government backbenchers do on a regular basis. Their supplementary questions are entirely out of order because they do not know how to draft them. Your ruling needs to be upheld, Mr Speaker, because—

MR SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order, Mrs Dunne. Resume your seat. Mrs MacDonald, if you rephrase your question and tie it into the drug and alcohol issue, I think that that will be okay.

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