IN THE NEWS

The Hon Julie Bishop MP Minister for Education, Science and Training Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues

The Hon Christopher Pyne MP Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing

MEDIA RELEASE Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Australia �� Tel: (02) 6277 7460 Fax: (02) 6273 4116 5 February 2007 CP04/07

$500,000 to support Life Education

The Australian Government will invest $500,000 to support drug education in schools, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, and the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, announced today.

“This vital two year funding will go to Life Education Australia (LEA), a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides school-based drug education and health promotion to Australian primary and secondary school students,” Ms Bishop said.

“With programs that commenced in 1979, LEA has had a long commitment to tackling drugs and drug use. They currently deliver positive and preventative drug and health education programs to 800,000 primary and secondary students annually.

“The Government has a strong commitment to ensuring young Australians have the skills to make smart, positive life decisions, and this funding shows that we stand firm on our resolve to prevent drug use in our community,” Mr Pyne said.

“Educating young people and the broader community on the dangers of drug use is critical,” Ms Bishop said.

“As LEA is the umbrella organisation for several franchise-based organisations that operate in all states and territories, it is disappointing that some states and territories have in fact withdrawn their funding for this important program.

“We will be writing to the states and territories that have withdrawn funding to ask them to reconsider their stance, and to strongly urge their support for future LEA activities,” Mr Pyne said.

“Life Education’s state-based affiliates should be supported at the state level, given it is state and territory education authorities and their schools that engage Life Education to conduct drug education professional development,” he said.

Media Contact:

Mr Pyne’s office: Adam Howard 0400 414 833