Page 1910 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 June 1993
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MS FOLLETT: To the best of my knowledge, and I checked on Monday, the investigation is not completed at this point. It is still continuing. I have expressed my view that it ought to be wrapped up in the shortest possible time, and that view has been taken on board. Madam Speaker, Mr De Domenico has asked me whether the investigation findings will be made public. I have said previously that I do not believe that it is appropriate that matters of a staff-in-confidence nature be made public. Where there has been an investigation into a particular allegation against and about particular staff members, I think that that ought to be treated with some degree of confidentiality. Nevertheless, Madam Speaker, I am aware of the action soon to be taken by the Department of Health. Rather than releasing the report on a similar type of investigation, they will release the report's findings, and that is a course of action which I will consider.
Bicycle Helmets
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr Connolly. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to whether medical exemptions exist for people who are unable to wear bicycle helmets? If not, why not?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I will get a full check on this question because I am not entirely sure of my ground. There may be some residual exemptions. As a matter of general policy, the answer is no. If one has a medical condition whereby one's head is too frail to wear a helmet, one should not be riding a pushbike because when one's head comes into contact with a bus one will be killed. There is no doubt that the bicycle helmet legislation has saved lives in the ACT. That is not just my view; it is the view of the police and it is the view of people like the Child Accident Prevention Foundation, whose badges I see some members are wearing today and who have done so much to campaign for this law around Australia. I suspect also that it is the view of members opposite, because this was one of those rare pieces of legislation that were supported by Labor and Liberal but opposed by the Independents. There may be some residual cases, but the general policy is that we do not have medical exemptions, on the basis that if you feel that it would injure your health to wear a helmet you should not be riding a pushbike.
MS SZUTY: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister reconcile this position with the new SunSmart policy, which calls for hats which cover the neck, face and ears to be worn by schoolchildren?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, you can get attachments to the helmet to cover those areas while you are riding your pushbike to school. That rule, according to my understanding of Mr Wood's very sensible rule to look after our young kids at school, essentially applies within the playground and, again, it is consistent with our approach of making things as safe as we can for our kids.
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