Page 1192 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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complete review of the information that is provided to people in different languages, in particular, Mandarin. The review we have done included a recommendation that we regularly remind people about the dangers of death cap mushrooms. There was a media release in March 2014 with radio and news broadcasts. There has been information sent electronically through social media. Information was also distributed to educational institutions like ANU, the University of Canberra, ACU, CIT and the International Students Association, the Canberra Hospital, Calvary Hospital, the poisons line and multicultural community organisations in the last month. We had done that post the death of those individuals some years ago.
We have done as much media as we can. We have information available on the ACT Health website including media releases, information sheets, posters and flyers. In addition, we work with TAMS around making sure that where there are areas of concern those are appropriately signposted. Indeed, I saw at the lake today that the NCA also has signposts up about that area having death cap mushrooms.
I think we do what we can. We will, of course, look back at these cases and see if there is anything further that can be done to make sure appropriate information is given to the right individuals.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what foreign languages are these notices produced in and particularly is Cantonese one of those languages?
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, they are available in English, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese as I understand it. I should also say that the Chief Health Officer and I post the death of the individuals a couple of years ago did some media work with Chinese TV to get messages out through Chinese broadcasting around the dangers of death caps in Canberra.
We have done that. We will look at what has happened in this situation and make sure that we are doing everything we can to get the message out about the harm that can be caused by death caps.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, have you provided restaurants and grocery stores with information directly?
MS GALLAGHER: There has been some close work done with restaurants, particularly in the last month. I would have to check whether that happened after the last incidents. We have also worked with business groups, with business and industry membership groups, to get information out where we can. Indeed in the last week we have asked a number of restaurants which are advertising wild mushrooms not to proceed with that and to change their menu.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
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