Page 4344 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 22 September 2010

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As Ms Burch said earlier, this high speed broadband will connect people to services in a way they have never been connected before. As she says, some people find it difficult to get to localities because of their disability or for other reasons, and these people stand to gain enormously from this investment. I am glad that this government takes seriously the needs of those who may not currently have access to broadband, as Ms Burch has outlined.

Of course, she also outlined many advantages of the NBN which I will not repeat here, in the interests of time. However, again this only goes to highlight the stark difference between the two sides of this chamber. The Liberals want to remain in the dark ages, and this side of the chamber will work with the federal Labor government and work with NBNCo to facilitate this fantastic investment.

This is an investment, as Mr Barr has also pointed out, that will give education a key tool for advancements in learning that we have never seen before. E-learning is a great advantage for schools in the ACT but is an even greater advantage for remote communities where it is critical, I suggest to you. It is evident to me that the Labor government and the crossbenchers will embrace this opportunity as much as the Liberal opposition will oppose it.

Motion, as amended agreed to.

Alexander Maconochie Centre—drugs

MR HANSON (Molonglo) (5:22): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) the harmful effect of illicit drug use;

(b) that illicit drug use is a factor in many of the crimes committed by prisoners at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC);

(d) that the Chief Minister has informed media that drugs are readily available to prisoners at the AMC;

(2) confirms its commitment to eradication of illicit drug use at the AMC and the rehabilitation of prisoners suffering from addiction; and

(3) calls on the ACT Government to table in the Assembly by close of business on 23 September 2010, an explanation of all measures it is taking to prevent drugs from entering the AMC and to ensure that prisoners remain drug free.

At the outset I would like to make a very important point: I believe that the job that the corrections officers do in our jail is an extremely difficult one and one made more

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