Page 1529 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 April 2013
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, can you advise what other jurisdictions use diesel fuel to mark out sportsgrounds?
MR BARR: I am obviously not responsible for decisions of other jurisdictions. Sportsgrounds are generally the purview of councils rather than state governments in other jurisdictions. I am not going to embark on a nationwide research exercise on which councils do and do not, but certainly my experience over nearly 40 years on this planet is that I have seen this practice across most states and territories in Australia.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister—
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot has the floor. Mr Coe and Mr Barr, you will desist from discussion across the chamber. Mr Doszpot has the supplementary question.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, your memory is slipping. I understand that with alternative line markings no other area uses diesel. I would like you to check into that. But what alternative line markings are available to use on ACT sportsgrounds, and if we are the only jurisdiction using it, will you consider such usage?
MR BARR: Paint is an alternative option, although of course that requires frequent—as in possibly every week—reapplication, depending, of course, on the level of wear and tear on sportsgrounds. I am happy to take advice on whether there is another chemical that would stop the grass growing as effectively as diesel. But the point here is to ensure that all of our sportsgrounds have appropriate line marking. If the shadow minister has a preferred treatment that will ensure that the grass does not grow in that spot, I would welcome that input.
I will raise it with sport and recreation services, but I must say that this is not an issue that has ever been raised with me in the time I have been minister for sport. It is not something you have as a regular complaint in relation to sportsgrounds. Irrigation issues are raised. Different grass types are raised. Certainly there have been plenty of people raise concerns with me in relation to the opposition’s proposal to cut funding for sportsground maintenance. But they have certainly not raised this issue.
Health—subacute care
DR BOURKE: My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister outline for the Assembly how the government is meeting the need for subacute care in the ACT health system?
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