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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1578 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

I have referred to a number of the mechanisms currently used and engaged in by schools. The clear message that comes through from the data provided in the most recent survey is that we must continue to maintain a myriad of activities focusing on the improvement of drug education in schools. But there is no magic bullet, and there is no simple approach which will effectively address the issue.

I mentioned earlier that it is not simply about education and vigorously saying no-although that is important. It is also about making sure young people have the appropriate information to enable them to make their own choices about their health and wellbeing. Some of the programs I have just alluded to provide that sort of information and support, particularly through the drug referral information centre at college program at all secondary colleges.

It is just as important to focus on addressing the issues surrounding young people who are facing disadvantage, or other difficulties, in their lives that might result in them making the choice to use illicit drugs. That is not always the case. It is not uniquely that group of young people who end up facing problems through the abuse of illicit substances, but it is clearly a strong indicator of potential risk.

That is why this government has committed to responding in detail to the reports of the standing committee on young people and adolescents at risk of not achieving satisfactory educational outcomes. We must address those substantive issues of disadvantage in the ACT education system. Therefore, we should be looking at a whole range of mechanisms that provide a greater level of support for young people who are at risk of dropping out of school or choosing other courses which are harmful and potentially destructive.

Mr Deputy Speaker, that commitment needs to be made in a context that looks at addressing the areas of relative need in the overall education system. We ought to focus strongly on seeing that, within the education system overall, our funding requirements are equitably directed to the areas of greatest need.

Mr Pratt raised issues of greater support for funding for drug education programs, through the $27 million school bus money. That is something which can be further explored through an inquiry into ACT education funding, in particular programs supporting young people facing disadvantage or needing additional assistance. There is drug education, and a whole range of other programs that provide support for them to continue their schooling. That is certainly open to this government. We will continue to focus on that in the lead-up to this budget, and in subsequent budgets.

I would like to conclude by talking very briefly about a number of other activities occurring in ACT government schools. Before I do that, though, I would like to take issue with Mr Pratt's comments about trafficking in schools.

I do not believe you can necessarily draw a correlation between a certain level of drug use and trafficking in schools. No doubt this has occurred from time to time in schools. Both the department and the government have a very clear policy on this, as did the previous government. If there is any suspected incidence of drug trafficking in schools, it is reported to the police. It is that simple. It needs to be, because it is an illegal activity. However, when we do that we should focus on making sure we are understanding some of the broader issues that might be drawing the young people in those schools into those

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