Page 4390 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993
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I also indicate that another product has been discovered which appears to be very unsafe. It is a Thomas the Tank Engine night-light. This is apparently very attractive to young children, although in the ACT I think ACTION buses would be more popular than trains. The night-light is a very dangerous product in that it is plugged directly into the main, so it attracts the child to the power outlet. It is extremely easy to take the plastic Thomas the Tank Engine off. What you are left with is a very cheap, foreign manufactured, non-Australian-safety-approved night-light device which is very crudely soldered together and would be quite easy for a child to get into, again bringing the child to the night-light. This has not been passed by the Australian Safety Standards. I have ACTEW engineers looking at this product at the moment to determine whether it could comply with Australian Safety Standards, and we are looking at banning this as well. So there are traps out there in the marketplace, but consumer affairs officials are out there protecting the public.
Hepatitis
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. ACT Health's September quarter activity report showed a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases of hepatitis A, B and C in the ACT. In fact, all types of hepatitis have increased, from 72 reported cases to 157, or an increase of more than 100 per cent, in just three months. I ask the Minister: What is the reason behind this dramatic increase in hepatitis and what are he and his Government doing to stem this tide?
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, it strikes me as very interesting that somebody who had an undivided interest yesterday in reducing the power of health officers would now ask questions about the rise in these particular figures. I am trying to look at some of the figures. There is no explanation for the increase in the September quarterly report. I will make sure that I get an analysis of those figures and provide it to the Assembly.
Mount Stromlo Observatory
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning, Mr Wood. I note that the Minister received a letter from Senator Chris Schacht, the Minister for Science, in July this year regarding the proposed development of North Duffy-Holder and the effect this will have on Mount Stromlo Observatory. Can the Minister inform the Assembly whether the Science Minister did call on the Government to reconsider proceeding with the proposed draft variation to the Territory Plan, North Duffy-Holder? Can the Minister also inform the Assembly as to when the findings of the study on the effects of residential and street lighting on the operations of the Mount Stromlo Observatory might be available?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, that is an interesting question, and the answer is very simple and very clear. Minister Schacht is quite pleased with the processes we have established. It is as simple as that. That is the answer. What is less pleasing is the way that issue was run. As Ms Szuty said, some two months or so ago Senator Schacht wrote to me. I responded to him, and he is quite satisfied with the process. I have not read it in detail, but I think a report in one of the throwaway newspapers yesterday of what he is now saying is fairly accurate.
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