Page 1159 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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MR DUBY: I thank Mrs Nolan for the question and, indeed, for first raising the issue with me. I must admit that I was amazed to learn, when Mrs Nolan did raise the issue, that parents accompanying their children to approved learn-to-swim lessons at government pools - namely, the Civic Olympic pool, the Manuka pool, the Dickson pool and the Erindale pool - are required to pay admission fees to watch their children learn. Having made some inquiries, I discovered that that was indeed the case, and I am pleased to announce that the Government has decided to stop this iniquitous practice as soon as possible. As a matter of fact, we are stopping it as from tomorrow.
The simple fact is that the fee, which for parents is in the order of $2, should not have been charged in the first place, as clearly the parents accompanying their children to learn-to-swim classes go for a number of reasons. I think that the decision by the Government to abolish this fee will be welcomed by many people. The simple fact is that it will make swimming lessons more affordable for ACT families. Swimming lessons, of course, are vitally important for children, and I think this decision will help families to make sure that their kids can participate in this program.
On many occasions, of course, parents wish to be with their children. They need to be with them for various reasons - to provide reassurance and to make the children feel a lot more comfortable in the water, and to reassure themselves that the children are being adequately catered for. I regard the collection of a fee as being against the whole concept of teaching the children to swim. So, as a result of those concerns, I am very pleased to advise Mrs Nolan that, as of tomorrow, parents accompanying their children to approved learn-to-swim classes at government pools will no longer have to pay admission charges.
Intoxicated Persons Legislation
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to Mr Wayne Berry, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and I am confident that I will get a proper answer.
MR SPEAKER: In what capacity?
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct this question to Mr Berry in the sense that he has responsibility for the Bill relating to care of and attention to intoxicated persons.
MR SPEAKER: No, I will not allow that.
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