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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 09 Hansard (Thursday, 19 August 2004) . . Page.. 3977 ..

School indeed sent a letter to the education department complaining about Totalcare’s work on this incident. One would have to wonder why the minister was not briefed on a child at an ACT primary school going missing.

On 4 August 2004 the minister in question, regarding her knowledge of the public interest disclosure, said, in relation to the public interest disclosure, “I am not aware of one.” We know now that this, of course, is not true. On 4 August 2004 the minister, in question time, highlighted that the opposition knew more about the issues than she did. On 18 August 2004 the first of a couple of articles appeared in the Australian. On 19 August 2004 the minister alluded to comments made in the paper by me with regard to G E Shaw and Associates. This was a serious misrepresentation because, at no stage, in any article—either on television or within the print media—have I mentioned G E Shaw and Associates. Again, the statement is not true. The facts are now here for the public record.

Daffodil Day

MS DUNDAS (6.10): I want to use this adjournment debate to remind members that tomorrow is Daffodil Day, the Cancer Council of Australia’s major fundraising event. It is a day to support those touched by cancer and to focus on hope for a cancer-free future. We saw the launch of the ACT Cancer Council’s contribution to Daffodil Day last Sunday, with the planting of daffodils on the lawns of Parliament House spelling out the word “hope”. Those were cardboard daffodils with messages on the back of great significance to a number of people in this community who have been touched by cancer.

At the beginning of the last century people with cancer faced almost certain death. Now, thanks to continuing improvement in research and patient care, more than half of them will be successfully treated. This progress is celebrated on Daffodil Day. The daffodil has been chosen as a symbol of hope for all those touched by cancer because of its reputation as a hardy annual flower, pushing its way through the frozen earth after a long winter to herald the return of spring, new life, vitality and growth.

I urge all members to join in Daffodil Day tomorrow; to make sure they have purchased their flowers of hope and are wearing their pins; to ensure that we are helping to make Daffodil Day one of the most successful fundraising events for cancer control in Australia. The Cancer Council of Australia helps provide $25 million to cancer research every year, and community funds support research into the causes and potential cures of a disease that affects almost one in three Australians.

Support is also provided through a cancer help line; there are programs for patients and families, and education programs aimed at preventing cancer. I thank the ACT Cancer Council for continuing their work in raising money to help find the causes of cancer and help those people touched by cancer. I hope that, tomorrow, we see a lot of yellow daffodils around the town representing the hope that we need to continue the battle against cancer.

Public interest disclosure

MS GALLAGHER (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (6.12):

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