A PETITION calling on the ACT Government to develop fenced playgrounds for autistic children has fetched over 400 signatures.

A petition tabled in the Legislative Assembly this week calls on the ACT Government to develop a standard for playgrounds that are appropriate for autistic children.

The petition, sponsored by the shadow minister for health Giulia Jones and tabled in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, calls for the development of a standard for fully fenced playgrounds, the construction of fenced playgrounds at Kambah and Throsby – with fences of a least 1.6 metres – and the repair of all fully fenced playgrounds in the ACT. 

“As a mother of children with autism, my first act in this Assembly called on the ACT Government to provide safe playgrounds for children in the ACT,” Ms Jones said.

“Nine years later, and I am still pushing this issue. But now it’s not about me anymore; my children are too old for the kids parks and they are not really a danger to themselves anymore.

“This is about Canberra families under incredible strain every single day just to achieve the things that people think are normal and easy.”