Page 1809 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 18 October 1989
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them looking at this, and my department is looking very closely at it.
The other building that has similar problems is the Silverton building, and I understand that that is being checked out very, very carefully. I also understand that no union will have any of its employees working in any of these buildings unless they are completely safe and until a report goes into the union. In the Silverton building, I understand, the Department of Social Security was renting, but it will not be moving in unless it knows that the building is completely safe.
Gifted Children
MR MOORE: My question is directed to the Minister for Industry, Employment and Education. I refer to articles in the Canberra Times last week about special programs for academically gifted children. I ask the Minister: what provisions are being made to assist these students to realise their full potential within the ACT education system as academically gifted children?
MR WHALAN: One of the features of our education system, Mr Speaker, is the broad range of programs that is available for children with a whole range of levels of ability. The need for special educational facilities for children with learning difficulties has long been recognised, and we do have quite a comprehensive range of programs, not the least of which is the recent, much publicised reading recovery program in primary schools for people with learning difficulties or special disabilities, such as intellectual disability, and efforts have been concentrated on that. But the debate continues on the extent to which particularly gifted children should be allowed to develop, and that is not yet completed.
Asbestos Removal
MR DUBY: My question is addressed to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. At present, only licensed asbestos removalists are permitted under the ACT building code to handle and remove asbestos sheeting, or what we know as fibro, from Canberra residences undergoing renovation or extension. There is no such restriction placed on New South Wales builders when removing asbestos sheeting from residential properties. Canberra residents who wish to have asbestos sheeting removed prior to work being completed are forced to use the services of a few licensed asbestos removalists. Can the Minister advise as to why licensed ACT builders should not be permitted to remove asbestos sheeting by following approved removal procedures and observing the necessary safety precautions, as occurs in New South Wales?
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