Page 3105 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 2013
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Investing in healthy Canberra kids is a priority for the government. $200,000 has been provided to the ACT parents and citizens association in this year to help run P&C canteen services to promote healthy food. Mr Doszpot went to great pains to say that I am not aware of what is going on in the canteens. That could not be further from the truth. I have had ongoing conversations with the P&C council around canteen reforms. They were the ones that were taking leadership in this area; this budget reflects that and is providing them with additional money. I have also gone out and worked in canteens to see how the systems work. I have seen firsthand how the canteen managers work through the online system, with the early orders coming through. I have also seen that kids will turn up on the day with their money in hand. There needs to be the ability to accommodate both. It is just not right to say that the matter of canteens has been ignored by this government.
We will also be investing $500,000 over four years for the installation of water refill stations to provide healthy alternatives to bottled water.
Yesterday in this place, Mr Doszpot made a great to-do about the absence of somebody in this chamber and how that reflected their complete indifference to the portfolio. I would just like to draw to everyone’s attention the fact that Mr Doszpot was not available for the estimates when Education and Training was being discussed. On his own measure from yesterday, that if you were not in the room you had complete disregard for that portfolio, Mr Doszpot has no regard or interest in Education and Training because he failed to turn up in estimates.
I also draw Mr Doszpot’s attention to the estimates report. The estimates report clearly—
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr Doszpot can use standing order 46 if he chooses, but do not interject during the debate.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: No. Sit down, Mr Doszpot. At the moment Minister Burch has the floor. If you wish to use the standing orders, you can do so later in the song, but do not interrupt. Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also would draw colleagues’ attention to the estimates report—the estimates committee chair report, as I think it is being referred to. It has a number of recommendations around education, but not one on those areas that are of interest for Mr Doszpot. Even his colleagues have failed to reflect the concern.
I have no doubt that Mr Doszpot will stand under the appropriate standing order and say he has been misrepresented. He will say that he was not there because he was off doing something else. Again I refer him to his own narrative of yesterday. The reason
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