Page 4093 - Week 15 - Thursday, 17 December 1992
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Condom Vending Machines
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is to the Minister for Education and Training, Mr Wood. Earlier this year secondary colleges were each given the option of installing condom vending machines should they choose to do so. How many secondary colleges have installed or intend to install condom vending machines?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, yes, that statement is correct. I referred the matter back to the colleges and said that, in accordance with the way we run the system here, they would have government support should they choose to install condom vending machines.
Mr Cornwell: School based management.
MR WOOD: Indeed. It is a matter that they are considering. I do not have the detail of that. There is no particular need for me to follow up on what they have said, but I will acquire the information. From talk around the place, I think the south side colleges will very likely do so. I have not heard about the north side colleges, but it is my expectation that they are more than likely to do so.
Childers Street Theatre
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, my question is addressed to Mr Connolly. I am not sure whether it relates to his position as Minister for Urban Services or as Attorney-General. I refer to the old Fortune Theatre in Childers Street. Some months ago, you may be aware, there were some squatters occupying it. I am not sure what has happened in relation to those people. I am interested to know how people are allowed to occupy such a building in the first place. Is there no procedure to render uninhabitable buildings that have been declared as unsafe for human occupancy?
MR CONNOLLY: Yes, the Urban Services portfolio administers surplus government assets in a caretaking role, and that is what we have been doing with the Childers Street theatre. About two months ago we became aware that squatters had moved in. That does happen from time to time in government properties. We obviously want those squatters out. The fire authorities inspected the premises and advised me that it was most unsafe. The premises were a fire risk, and people squatting in there and using campfires made that risk doubly so. We have been endeavouring to persuade the people who were squatting to vacate the premises and to secure the premises. I was concerned, though, that it would be counterproductive to have a confrontation to the point of using physical violence to evict those young people who were squatting there.
Mr Cornwell: Are they still there, Minister?
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