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 | Recent high profile deaths have highlighted the need for information on coping with grief. |
| Between 5 - 10% of people in the Canberra community will face some form of personal bereavement in a year. |
| The research for the publication is detailed and thorough. |
| Only half of the Canberra population know that bereavement services exist and less than J of people from Non English Speaking backgrounds are aware of these services. |
| Some exciting news about funding will be announced! |
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell on 6230 0411
Senator Kate Lundy launches:
CONTRACTING OUT IN AUSTRALIA: AN INDICATIVE HISTORY
In launching the book, Senator Lundy asked this question about contracting out Government work: Who wins? This book, like the recent Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Report into contracting out, finds that the costs/saving equations often used to justify outsourcing are not always complete.
Who wins? Contracting out has been justified by this Government on the basis of cost savings. They argue that the winner is the taxpayer, who gets better value for the tax dollar. This Government went so far as to lock in savings from contracting out into their budget statements, pre-enpting without the contracts even being in place.
Contracting Out in Australia - An Indicative History shows that the process of contracting out is not a simple matter. The long history of contracting out shows that there are many factors to be considered that to date have not been quantified or even addressed by this Government.
It is clear that any savings or benefits that may have arisen from contracting out on a strategic basis cannot simply be multiplied by contracting out more and more. Unfortunately, this is the ideologically driven approach adopted by this Government.
The recent example of Information Technology outsourcing by the Department of Finance has demonstrated that factors such as regional job loss, industry development and small indigenous company's participation and access to the contracts cannot be removed from Government considerations.
For more information, please call Robyn Blackwell 0262773334
Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT today launched a campaign targeting the Prime Minister’s refusal to live in Canberra and the Liberal party’s attacks on the Nation’s Capital.
"This postcard campaign aims to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to the anger and frustration felt by many people in Canberra and the environs. It is my hope the Prime Minister office will be inundated with 10 000 of these postcards. I will be establishing an electronic version of the postcard with the Prime Minister’s email address, allowing anyone with email capacity to electronically inundate the PM’s office – that’s cyber democracy for you.
"In launching this postcard I am only too aware that many Canberran’s will be facing a grim Christmas and there does not appear to be light at the end of the tunnel for Canberra’s residents and business.
In response to the recent comments made by Senator Ian Campbell that the recession caused by the Coalition in the ACT was ‘fantastic’, Senator Lundy said "I hope that people all over Australia will join me in making a New Years resolution that sees the end of a Government that finds the suffering of other Australian’s humorous.
Updated information on the postcard campaign is available on Kate’s home page:www.tip.net.au/~klundy/.
This press conference will be telecast on Channel 12
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell on 02) 6277 3334
Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Tourism and Assistant to the Shadow Minister for the Arts, attacked the government in Senate Question Time today. (See question below)
This followed the announcement of the resignation of the Federal Government’s music industry export adviser, Phil Tripp, and his statements with respect to the Government’s position on parallel importing.
Question to Senator Hill representing the Minister for Trade.:
Do you acknowledge that the government’s music industry adviser, Mr Phil Tripp, has done an excellent job in helping lift music industry exports from $5 million in 1985 to $220 million in 1996?
Can you confirm that the same Mr Tripp has resigned today because, in his words, the Government is, "disembowelling the music industry by its misinformed and vengeful implementation of parallel importing of CDs in a crazy attempt to con the public into believing CDs will be cheaper and more plentiful?
Will you now concede that your Government’s policy of parallel importing
will not deliver cheaper CDs to the Australian public;
will turn the Australian music industry into an expatriate music industry, rather than an export industry; and
will deny new, local Australian talent the opportunity to receive exposure and promotion, both here in Australia and overseas?
Supplementary question:
Is it true that Mr Tripp also said, "under (Prime Minister) John Howard and (Arts) Minister Richard Alston's plan for parallel importing of CDs, I’d advise artists and companies to move off-shore rather than be destroyed here in the future".
Do you agree with Mr Tripp that Australian will end up with an expatriate music industry like New Zealand rather than an export industry? If not, why not?
Previous press release on the issue and Senator Lundy’s taking note speech on CD's in the Senate
For more information contact Kate Lundy on (02) 6277 3334
Today the Senate References Committee tabled the first report of its
Inquiry into Contracting out of Government Services. This report addresses the contracting
out of Commonwealth Government Information Technology.
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/fapa_ctte/outsourcing/index.htm
The 1997 budget saw the Liberal Government embark upon a fundamentally flawed program of outsourcing of IT services. Savings on IT expenditure through 'economies of scale' were cited as the primary justification for such a program. The Government has since admitted that these projected savings have now shrunk by 75%.
Concerns relating to the privacy and accountability prompted the Senate Inquiry and the IT outsourcing terms of reference were added to the original terms of reference on the 27 May 1997.
Fundamental flaw - Australian businesses excluded
Indigenous Australian IT companies are justified in their vocal criticism of the outsourcing process initiated by the Government. The process and structure relegates Australian businesses to sub-contractor status, with their only opportunity to obtain Government contracts being entirely contingent upon the terms the multinational IT corporations are prepared to offer.
The 'cluster' or multi-departmental approach to IT outsourcing ensures that only the multinationals have the capability to carry the risks such a large contract (by Australian standards) involves.
The multinationals are in turn resisting Government pressure to enter partnerships designed to guarantee a degree of local participation.
This will deny Australian business the ability to innovate and grow, as Government contracts previously provided the security necessary to foster research and development, as well as platform upon which they could market their exportable products and services.
Fundamental flaw - Citizen's privacy at risk.
Back in April, Minister Fahey indicated that he would amend the Privacy Act to ensure its application to contractors holding personal information on behalf of the Government. These amendments have not yet seen the light of day. Until they do, not only are potential tenderers pricing on unknown legislative conditions, but the extent to which the privacy of such sensitive information is completely unregulated.
The Government cannot use contractual privacy provision to guarantee such matters because:
For this reason alone there is justification for a moratorium to be placed upon the IT outsourcing process.
Fundamental flaw: Competitive tendering by-passed
The Government has continually championed the competitive tendering processes as being the means by which savings will be delivered. However, in the first instance, the Department of Finance (DoF) chose to bypass this process and used an obscure clause in the Interim Procurement Guidelines to 'piggyback' the DoF IT contract on a pre-existing IT contract which existed between IBM and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA).
This move shattered the confidence of even the multinationals who were eager to tender for the tranches of Government IT work. The Ministerial discretionary power used to initiate the piggyback was out of context and breached the spirit, if not the letter, of the procurement guidelines.
In addition, the Governments motives were exposed when they excluded in house bids. It became clear that savings were being used to justify an ideological commitment contracting out Government services.
Fundamental flaw: Savings not there.
Evidence to date shows that with respect to outsourced IT, barely 50% of contracts make any savings. Studies on outsourcing that analyse contracted out municipal services are not a valid comparison. In addition, the rate of technological change ensures that contract variations are a feature, invariably leading to cost blow-outs.
The basis of the justification for IT outsourcing was one of cost savings. In the pursuit of this outcome, the Government has compromised Australian industry, citizen's privacy and principles of open and competitive tendering. Sadly, even the savings are not there. Latest estimates have the return to Government at less that a quarter of a million dollars.
Fundamental flaw: Public accountability
Information technology is an enabling technology. You cannot separate it from the ability of any organisation to achieve greater efficiencies or innovative advances in information handling techniques. To outsource IT under the current proposal will deny Government agencies the ability to make strategic decisions about information services and management that could compromise the development or improvement of services to the public.
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on 02) 6277 3334
The resignation of Dr Andy Macdonald, the Chief Information Officer for the Federal Government has triggered an implosion at the Office of Government Information Technology (OGIT), Senator Lundy said today.
As predicted by Senator Lundy nearly two months ago (see attached), OGIT’s demise was inevitable considering the extremely poor management of the Government’s IT outsourcing program, which is now well documented.
The Commonwealth IT outsourcing program, which was announced in this year’s budget, has been bungled from the start. Savings estimates are now barely 25% of the original claims. The program has attracted comprehensive criticism from all sectors of the information technology industry. The leaking of a cabinet submission showed that even the agencies were highly critical of the plan.
The bypassing of competitive tendering processes through piggybacked contracts and the exclusion of indigenous IT businesses featured prominently in the criticisms. Despite remedial changes on the hop, OGIT were never able to get IT right.
IT outsourcing has also been the subject of a Senate Inquiry, which is due to report next Monday. The timing of this announcement pre-empts the tabling of this report by one working day.
Although the Minister has tried to play down the significance of the demise of OGIT and Mr Macdonald’s departure, there can be no denying that the outsourcing program has failed miserably. To place OGIT in the Office of Asset Sales (OAS) contradicts what the Government has continually stated as their objectives for the IT outsourcing program.
On the 25th April, the Minister for Finance stated (as part of the announcement about the outsourcing program)
'The move to more open, competitive processes for delivery of IT infrastructure services is in keeping with the Government’s election commitment to streamline the administration of Government and apply the principles of competitive neutrality to improve the management of IT services.'
This proves once again that the Minister’s handling of IT outsourcing is incompetent.
It is ridiculous for the Minister to even try and suggest that the OAS will maintain a "vital policy implementation role" with respect to IT&T.
Proof of the Governments’ disjointed approach lies in the Minister’s nomination of a raft of 'leading edge work' that he claims will be done by the new Office of Asset Sales and IT Outsourcing. This cuts directly across the work that has been nominated by Senator Alston in his justification for the establishment for the Office of Information Economy, which is part of the Communications portfolio:
The Government developed NOIE to develop co-ordinate and overview broad policy relating to:
| For the regulatory, legal and physical infrastructure environment for online activities, |
| facilitating electronic commerce |
| ensuring a consistent Commonwealth position in international fora |
| overseeing policies for applying new technology to government administration and information and service provision. |
This Government hasn’t lost its way with IT – it never found it in the first place.
For further information, Contact Kate Lundy on 2300411 or 2773334
18 September 1997 - Media Release - Is OGIT’s demise imminent ?
Senator Kate Lundy, parliamentary assistant to the Shadow Minister for Science and Information Technology, today claimed that the death knell is sounding for the Office of Government Information Technology (OGIT). The establishment of the new National Office of Information Economy (NOIE) signals the end of OGIT.
After months of the Liberal Government taking severe political damage over OGIT’s blunders with the IT outsourcing process, they are now manoeuvring to knife OGIT completely.
Additional reference: Minister for Finance Media Release statement dated 22 September, rejecting this assertion. Unable to locate on the web.
5 November 1997 - Media Release
Senator Lundy tours local IT&T research success story
Senator Lundy today called on the Federal Government to increase the proportion of funding for Cooperative Research Centres from the information and communication technology sector. Senator Lundy was speaking at a tour of the headquarters of the Cooperative Research Centre for Robust and Adaptive Systems (CRASys) and the Advanced Computational Systems (ACSys) at the ANU.
"This campus (ANU) has the largest concentration of international researchers and students in IT&T of any other institution in Australia and has resulted in industry groups, government agencies and universities successfully being brought together for research and educational opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer of ACSys, Dr John O’Callaghan said that "as participants in ACSys, major vendors such as Sun, Fujitsu, Digital, Silicon Graphics and Storage Tek have provided world class infrastructure and this has resulted in rapid development and demonstrations of advanced information technologies to end users."
"The CRC’s have provided opportunities and benefits for SME’s within the IT&T sector as well as allowing Australia to play an important role on the international stage. This means financial returns for Australia and a strategic investment in Australia’s industry." Senator Lundy said
Bob Bitmead, the Executive Director of CRASys Ltd said "Our involvement with BHP and Boeing Australia has opened doorways to Australian and US companies interested in applying the results of our research to control systems in their designs. In turn, our research has created areas for future development and commercialisation."
In highlighting the educational benefits of the CRC’s, Fulton Muir, Chairman of the CRASys Board said "the CRC experience has brought a heightened awareness of the business side of innovation to researchers. The top calibre researchers, graduate students, engineers and scientists will link into the development cycle for Australia"
"Investment in research, development and commercialisation must be restored if Australia is to participate in global IT&T development. The CRC’s are an excellent model for such development." Senator Lundy concluded
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on 6230 0411.
3 November 1997 - Media Notice
Co-operative Research Centres - research success stories
Assistant to the Shadow Minister for Information Technology and the Australian Computer Society’s nominated ‘Most Computer Literate Politician’, Senator Kate Lundy invites all interested journalists to join her in touring the headquarters of Cooperative Research Centres (CRC’s) at the Australian National University.
"The Cooperative Research Centre for Robust and Adaptive Systems (CRASys) and the Advanced Computational Systems (ACSys) are examples of a thriving information and communication technology sector in Canberra which are threatened by the Howard Government’s lack of leadership and understanding of the benefits of indigenous research centres." Senator Lundy said
"Funding cuts to research and development in the information technology and telecommunications sector are a direct contradiction of recommendations of the recent Goldsworthy Report. Increasing funding to CRC’s is a tangible objective for the future of Australia’s IT & T sector – under the current Government, we are looking at fewer CRC’s in the years to come."
"We are in real danger of losing expertise overseas and destroying the credible base in information and communication technology unless more support is given to these industries."
"This is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a critical mass of industry, research institutions and end users collaborate.
The tour of the CRC’s will commence at 9.30am
Wednesday, November 5, 1997.
At the reception area of the RSISE building, ANU
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on6230 0411.
30 October 1997 - Media Release
Minister dancing to the wrong tune on CD prices.
"Senator Alston has shown a complete lack of understanding about CD prices and the consequences of allowing parallel importing in Australia" Senator Lundy said today.
In Question time today, Senator Lundy further exposed the inconsistencies in the Government’s position on parallel importing of CDs, challenging the Minister’s assertion that consumers would benefit.
"One leading Australian record company has pointed out that although their recommended retail price is $27.95, their products are often sold for $30. Therefore, Senator Alston’s proposals cannot guarantee that retailers will pass on any savings to consumers." Senator Lundy said.
"I cannot believe that Senator Alston actually buys CDs, because if he bothered to visit a few Canberra retailers (and we certainly could do with a few more Liberal dollars here) then he might discover that most stores offer between $3 and $7 off the recommended retail price. Parallel importing, which will place thousands of jobs at risk, will have a negligible impact, if any, on the current state of record prices" Senator Lundy said.
For further information contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on (02) 6277 3334
28 October 1997 - Media Release
Emily's List launched in Canberra
The Honourable Joan Kirner and Senator Kate Lundy will launch the ACT branch of Emily's List Australia on Tuesday 28 October 1997 from 6pm- 7.30pm at Tilley's Devine Cafe in Lyneham. Emily's List is a financial and political support network for Labor women candidates.
Joan Kirner who has helped model Emily's List Australia will address the gathering, as will Carmen Lawrence, on the issue of attracting even more women to the ALP.
"This is a great opportunity for women in the Canberra community to become involved in contributing to the political landscape. There are not enough women in representative roles in Parliament and Emily's List aims to change that scene." Ms Kirner said.
Senator Lundy, who is a founding member of Emily’s List in the ACT said "with growing membership throughout Australia, we are enthusiastic about the Canberra launch.
"I think the key principles of Emily's List - equity & justice, self determination and full participation are being stifled by the Howard Government. It is fitting that we are launching another chapter of an organisation that will help place women who are committed to these ideals in Parliament.
"Emily's List membership is open to all women. I would like to invite women in Canberra to attend the launch and find out more about an organisation that has raised over $14 million in the USA and helped elect more than 30 women to the US Government." Senator Lundy said
Joan Kirner and Kate Lundy will be available for comment. Please call Robyn Blackwell on 6277 3334 to arrange an interview time.
27 October 1997 - Media Notice
"Women, Polls and Politics"
Launch of ACT Emily's List
The Honourable Joan Kirner and Senator Kate Lundy will launch the ACT branch of Emily's List Australia on Tuesday 28 October 1997 from 6pm- 7.30pm at Tilley's Devine Cafe in Lyneham.
Emily's List is a financial and political support network for Labor women candidates.
Emily's List is an acronym for Early Money Is Like Yeast - it makes the dough rise...
Joan Kirner and Kate Lundy will be available for comment on Monday October 27, 1997 from 2.30pm. Please call Robyn Blackwell on 6277 3334 to arrange an interview time.
23 September 1997 - Media Release
Alston exposes new ministry as window dressing only.
Senator Kate Lundy, Assistant to the Shadow Minister for Information Technology, today slammed Senator Alston for having no comprehension of the single most important issue in his new Ministry of Information Economy.
Senator Alston, when asked to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the phased approach versus the clean break approach with respect to the process for the outsourcing Government IT services said ' I am not in a position to comment on that....it has nothing at all to do with information economy'.
The outsourcing of government information services will have a dramatic and long lasting effect on the Australian 'Information Economy' and particularly on Australian owned small and medium IT businesses.
The information economy can not exist in a vacuum. All the elements of the IT sector should be linked under one portfolio. Senator Alston has again proven the greatest problem that the Government has with respect to the IT industry - understanding its inter-relationship with the rest of the economy. What the industry requires is in-depth government policy direction, targeted industry assistance schemes and a Minister who is across their brief.
However, the Prime Minister is yet to identify and allocate additional resources to the Minister for Information Economy. Until this occurs, the "Information Economy" portfolio is nothing more than window-dressing by the Government, with Senator Alston the dummy in the window.
Contact: Kate Lundy or Robyn Blackwell on 02 6277 3334
23 September 1997 - Media Release
Australian Sports Commission Board Purge Politically Motivated and Short-Sighted.
The Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, today said that purging the board of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) was an insult to the high calibre board members who have served the Commission very well.
The letters sent by the Minister for Sport, Mr Warwick Smith MP, to at least half of the Board members last week requesting their resignations are politically motivated and highlight the risks that the Liberal Government is prepared to take with Australian sport for pure political gain.
Losing people such as the Chairman, Mr Fitzpatrick, along with Commissioners Dr Charlesworth, Mr de Castella, Ms Flintoff-King and Ms Schofield will mean also losing the corporate memory and high community regard for the ASC.
The Minister's scheming manoeuvre is apparently because 'the Minister wanted the opportunity of establishing a smaller board with a different mix of skills.'
In purging the Board of the ASC in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics and next year's Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Howard Government's timing could not be worse.
Mr Smith and Mr Howard will not be forgiven if their political game playing with the ASC board results in a drop in performance by Australia at the Commonwealth or Olympic Games. This sort of petty behaviour by Ministers should be condemned by the Prime Minister, not condoned.
Senator Lundy has written to the Minister urging him to maintain and reappoint all current members of the ASC Board.
The ASC is expected to announce officially the changes to the Board later today. Senator Lundy will be waiting with interest to see if the new ASC Board members are Liberal stooges.
Contact: Kate Lundy or Robyn Blackwell on 02 6277 3334
22 September 1997 - Media Release
Childcare Survey confirms major concerns about cuts to childcare.
Senator Kate Lundy has released the results of a survey conducted by her office which contains evidence of the detrimental effect of the $821m cuts to childcare funding.
The response from parents and childcare staff show that the situation is critical, with costs to parents increasing, availability of places decreasing and jobs being lost.
100% of staff respondents reported that jobs had been lost in their centre or staff hours had been cut. This has the potential to affect the quality of care that centres are able to deliver and that is a major concern for the whole community, not just parents and workers.
The Federal Liberal Government must be held responsible for the reduction of quality care in centres and job losses. The fact that the Minister consistently refutes the evidence means that she has no idea about the effect these cuts are having.
This survey simply confirms what we have been saying; that families, childcare workers, single parents, and those studying are losing out under this Government. Ultimately, this all affects our children.
This Government’s approach to childcare is ill informed. The next two weeks will see yet another piece of legislation introduced into the Parliament that will entrench the structural damage to the childcare sector.
Click here for a representative sample of the survey responses. For further information on the survey, please contact Robyn Blackwell on 6230 0411
18 September 1997 - Media Release
Is OGIT’s demise imminent ?
Senator Kate Lundy, parliamentary assistant to the Shadow Minister for Science and Information Technology, today claimed that the death knell is sounding for the Office of Government Information Technology (OGIT). The establishment of the new National Office of Information Economy (NOIE) signals the end of OGIT.
After months of the Liberal Government taking severe political damage over OGIT’s blunders with the IT outsourcing process, they are now manoeuvring to knife OGIT completely.
Senator Alston has already publicly indicated that he is now responsible for the Government’s IT outsourcing process and this is going to be conducted by NOIE. This clearly indicates that the Prime Minister believes that OGIT has failed on a range of fronts but particularly with regard to the inadequate tendering processes that have allowed piggyback contracting to occur.
The pressure has been on OGIT for several months with opposition members of the Senate Inquiry into the Outsourcing of Government Services and the Senate Estimates Committee applying the blowtorch to the senior executive of OGIT over their involvement and their advice to Government.
Serious questions about the benefits to the Government and the Australian IT industry have been asked, and OGIT has fallen short of convincing the industry and the Australian public that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks of outsourcing Government IT. Furthermore, questions over OGIT's competence have been raised.
Undoubtedly Messrs Howard, Fahey and Alston are looking for a scapegoat, and OGIT is it. The continued failures by the Liberal Government in the area of IT demonstrates a lack of leadership and foresight.
The Government already has an Office of Information Technology. Simply changing the name and giving Senator Alston responsibility will not hide the fact that the Government has failed dismally on IT and industry policy generally.
Contact: Kate Lundy 0419 421 553 or Matthew Cossey on 0412 023 334.
26 August 1997 - Media Notice
Senator Kate Lundy appointed Parliamentary Secretary in portfolio reshuffle.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley today announced the appointment of Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT, as the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Sport and Tourism.
Senator Lundy has also been appointed the Assistant to the Shadow Ministers for Science and Information Technology, Youth Affairs and the Arts.
Senator Lundy will be available for comment at the Senate entrance today at 3.30pm and available for radio interviews from 3.45pm on 277 3334.
Please find attached the press release and list of Parliamentary Secretaries from the Leader of the Opposition.
Please contact Robyn Blackwell on 277 3334 for further information.
18 August 1997 - Media Statement
Australian Parliamentarians On-line – at last.
It was confirmed at the Senate supplementary estimates hearings today that the majority of federal politicians have access to the internet. This much awaited connection has been welcomed by Senator Lundy, an internet enthusiast.
"Although a few politicians (including myself) have chosen to go on line previously, internet capability has become a must for all politicians, as an ever increasing number of Australians are choosing to communicate through the internet."
"This development means that federal parliamentarians will be able to access the World Wide Web and use internet email," Senator Lundy said. "The email addresses for those on line will be listed at this World Wide Web address: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate"
Note: This needs to be updated to include those who have just gone on-line.
"Forty-nine of the seventy-six Senators have gone on-line, with a similar proportion of Members of the House of Representatives taking up the option."
"With internet usage growing exponentially, one of the greatest challenges before the Federal Government is ensuring that all Australians have the opportunity to access it.
"Current statistics show that high income earners are far more likely to access the internet. Initiatives to ensure that internet access and use is not confined to the wealthy need to be put in place now. Actions, not words, are what is required to avoid "information haves and have-nots" in Australian society.
"Public access points, educational programs and specific attention to rural Australia must all be elements of a comprehensive strategy to allow everyone to benefit from the information revolution.
It is my hope that by having access to the internet, parliamentarians will see the potential it offers and the need to extend this opportunity to all Australians." Senator Lundy concluded.
For more information, contact Kate Lundy or Robyn Blackwell on 2300411
15 August 1997 - Media Statement
Labor’s Internet enthusiast meets ‘Father of the Internet’.
As a recognised Internet enthusiast and the Australian Computer Society’s nominated ‘Most Computer Literate Politician’, Senator Kate Lundy will today meet with a key US Government IT adviser, Dr Vinton Cerf.
"Dr Cerf has played a critical role in the development of the USA as a world leader in information technology. I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the crucial issues of Australia’s IT industry development and the societal impact of technological advancement with Dr Cerf.
"With one of the highest take up rates of new technologies in the world, Australia has both the capacity and potential to develop the infrastructure necessary for this industry to flourish. These are the type of responses to international competitiveness and national unemployment that the Government should be pursuing.
"IT is the fastest growing industry in the world and has an inherent appeal and relationship with the younger generation, a point that seems to elude the Howard Government as they continue to ignore job creation.
"I also hope to discuss the many policy challenges associated with ensuring equitable access to the Internet with Dr Cerf." Senator Lundy concluded.
For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell on (06) 230 0411
4 August 1997 - Media Statement
ACT bankruptcy figures highest in Australia.
Senator Kate Lundy today revealed that the ACT was leading the country in bankruptcies according to figures from the Minister for Justice, Daryl Williams.
Senator Lundy will be seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister to put forward the many concerns that the residents and businesses of the ACT and surrounding regions are faced with.
"Almost 60% more businesses in the ACT than last year registered as bankrupt in the 96/97 year and the atmosphere in the ACT is dominated by the belief that if you are surviving - you are successful.
"The correlation between public service cuts and bankruptcies is evident in these figures. The other major public sector state is the Northern Territory, where bankruptcies are also tragically high.
For the ACT, the Government’s cuts to our workforce have been disastrous for our whole community. This means that people are out of jobs and despite all the talking up of the Prime Minister of the day, Canberra continues to suffer under the federal Liberal Government.
"It is important to remember the human face of these statistics. The residents and businesses of the ACT are living in a state of anxiety about their futures and these bankruptcy figures reveal that none of us are feeling even vaguely relaxed and comfortable.
"There is definitely enough evidence to warrant Federal Government intervention in the form of economic support for this region and I will be attempting to put this idea to the Prime Minister personally " Senator Lundy concluded
A copy of the bankruptcy figures are attached.
For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell on (06) 230 0411
29th July 1997 - Media Statement
Senator Lundy delivers Tom Price Memorial Lecture.
Senator Kate Lundy will address the seventh Tom Price Memorial Lecture at Old Parliament House in Adelaide tonight at 6pm. Previous speakers have included Barry Jones, Ross McMullin and John Bannon.
"I am honoured to have been invited to speak at this forum which traditionally addresses current issues facing the Australian Labor Party."
"My speech and the visits I will be making to Flinders University and Trades Hall will centre around young people, employment and how the ALP approaches future policy development.
"In an age where the majority of young people are sceptical about political processes, Labor has taken up the challenge of restoring confidence.
"The value of youth participation in all aspects of society is recognised by Labor. Our philosophy is one of inclusion and empowerment, not division and discrimination.
"Young people are suffering disproportionate levels of economic, social and psychological pain under the Howard Government. I am here in Adelaide to talk about Labor’s response to the challenges facing young people.".
In her address, Senator Lundy concluded with:
"Labor in government provided many opportunities, but we know now that those positive outcomes were contingent upon Labor remaining in power. Under this Liberal Government young people have been laid bare. I believe Labor is a party that can change that, but only with a comprehensive approach to the needs of young people - participation, education and industry policy.
If this sounds like rampant optimism to even the most faithful of true believers - I don’t apologise. However, what has been lacking for young people is a clear signal that there is reason to be optimistic about the future.
I think that the way in which Labor’s policies are developing show that there is in indeed reason to be more optimistic. Labor learned a lot in Government – and we have also learned a lot in defeat."
29 July, 1997
For further information or for a full copy of the speech (12 pages), please contact Robyn Blackwell on (06) 230 0411
25 July 1997 - Media Statement
Senator Lundy to address Tom Price Memorial Lecture
Senator Kate Lundy will address the seventh Tom Price Memorial Lecture in Adelaide on Tuesday, July 29, 1997.
"I am hounoured to have been invited to speak at a forum that has seen the likes of Barry Jones, Ross McMullin and John Bannon address issues facing the Australian Labor Party
"My speech and the visits I will be making to Flinders University and the local Trades Hall centre around the issue of young people and employment and I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to this topic.
For comment contact Kate Lundy or Matthew Cossey on 230 0411 or 0412 023 334.
23 July 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
Minister attempts to use the ACCC to break Howard promise.
Senator Kate Lundy, Opposition member on the Senate Communications Committee, today condemned Senator Richard Alston for referring Telstra's proposal to charge for local Directory Assistance calls onto the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) when he could have used his Ministerial powers to disallow it completely.
"In light of Mr Howard's promise that the Liberal Government would not allow Telstra to charge consumers for Directory Assistance services, the Minister for Communications, Senator Alston, should not even be considering Telstra's proposal on this issue.
"The Minister had the opportunity to disallow this charge outright without an inquiry. Furthermore the ACCC's inquiry into the new charge has not been advertised widely enough which means that Australian telephone users have been denied any reasonable chance to have their say on this very important issue. This has been clearly demonstrated by the non attendance of members of the public and interested parties at the ACCC's public hearings on this issue.
"Undoubtedly Telstra has submitted a weight of information supporting their request to charge for Directory Assistance services and I hope that the ACCC remembers that while Telstra has had months and substantial resources to prepare their submission, consumer groups and members of the public have not been given an equal chance.
"This move by Telstra is directly connected to their forthcoming privatisation. Telstra has lost its focus on its customers and is obsessed with cutting services and increasing profits to ensure a higher share price when they are floated."
"I will be writing to the Minister and the ACCC raising my concerns with the inquiry process and urging the Government not to allow Telstra to charge for local Directory Assistance services" Senator Lundy said.
Despite the closing date for submissions having already being extended from Friday of last week to today, Senator Lundy is encouraging all members of the public concerned with Telstra's proposal to continue to contact the ACCC and the Minister's office with their views and submissions.
For comment contact Kate Lundy or Matthew Cossey on 230 0411 or 0412 023 334.
14 July 1997 - Joint Media Statement
from ACT Federal representatives.
ACT Senators Kate Lundy and Margaret Reid and Federal Members for the ACT, Steve Dargavel, Annette Ellis and Bob McMullan, today expressed their shock and sadness in the wake of the tragedy which resulted from the implosion of the old Canberra Hospital.
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young girl who died on Sunday.
Our thoughts are also with those who sustained injuries and those who witnessed family or friends being hurt.
We would like to acknowledge the emergency services' workers who responded so professionally in a difficult situation.
Our hope is that the care and compassion of the Canberra community will assist all those who are suffering to overcome the pain and trauma caused by this event.
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell from Senator Lundy's office on 230 0411.
3 July 1997 - Media Notice
IT Outsourcing Inquiry.
Tomorrow, Senator Kate Lundy will be available for comment on the proceedings of the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Inquiry into Information Technology outsourcing.
The agenda and terms of reference of the Inquiry are attached for your information.
The inquiry will commence at 9am in Senate Committee Room 2S1.
Please advise Robyn Blackwell on 230 0411 if you wish to speak to the Senator about this Inquiry.
13 June 1997 - MEDIA RELEASE
Carers condemn Government.
A committee met today in the office of Senator Kate Lundy to unanimously condemn the Government's cuts to childcare and plan future action to demonstrate their anger towards the Liberal Government
"This committee is made up of childcare workers, directors and parents who run and use a range of childcare agencies. Apart form their commitment to children, the common thread amongst these people is their frustration and concern for the future of childcare.
"This meeting follows an extremely successful ACT Childcare Summit which gave over 150 people an opportunity to explain how the cuts were affecting them.
"Having waged a campaign since the first round of $500 million cuts in last year's Budget, I am consistently appalled at how deep these cuts have gone, with another $321 being sliced out of spending on childcare.
"These cuts are affecting many, many families and I can only assume that the Minister's consultations are fundamentally flawed if she does not hear the community's anger." Senator Lundy concluded.
Please find the resolution attached. For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on 230 0411 or 248 7462 (ah)
15 June 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
Reconciliation - Joint Statement by Senator Kate Lundy and Marion Reilly, MLA.
Kate Lundy, Senator for the Australian Capital Territory and Marion Reilly, Shadow Spokesperson for Social Justice in the ACT Legislative Assembly, today moved an 'Urgency Motion' reaffirming the ALP's commitment to aboriginal affairs and the reconciliation process at the Australian Labor Party's 1997 ACT Branch Conference.
The motion also called on the Prime Minister and the ACT Chief Minister to demonstrate some leadership on the issue of Aboriginal reconciliation.
"The Prime Minister has shown insincerity and a complete lack of leadership on the issue of reconciliation and he should be ashamed of his performance on aboriginal affairs.
"The Australian Labor Party has always lead the way on social justice issues and it is an indictment of the Coalition Government that they are unable to continue the Aboriginal reconciliation process which the Labor Government started. " said Senator Lundy
If Australia is going to have any credibility on the international stage, it is essential that we have a genuine reconciliation process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"My hope is that the reconciliation process will be achieved by the time Australia is celebrating the centenary of federation. If the Howard Government is unable to commit to reconciliation before the next election then I am sure the Australian people will again entrust the job to the Labor Party." said Senator Lundy.
"This apology is an essential action taken by the ACT Labor Party to show its continuing commitment to Aboriginal reconciliation and to working towards healing the hurts inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
"Without an apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reconciliation becomes a hollow exercise. As a nation and a community we must acknowledge the mistakes of the past before we can go forward into a fair, tolerant and just society.
"After announcing on the 30th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum that I would introduce an apology motion into the next sitting of the ACT Legislative Assembly, I have been working with the ACT Greens to develop this motion.
"The ACT Liberal Leader has been a reluctant participant in this action but it is hoped that she will support the motion introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly this week. The Chief Minister along with her federal leader must recognise that true reconciliation will only occur when abhorrent practices of the past are acknowledged and an apology is made to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people" said Marion Reilly, Spokesperson for Social Justice.
Contact: Matthew Cossey 0412 023 334 (for Senator Lundy) or Tim Benson 018 113 849
(for Marion Reilly)
30 May 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
1997 Childcare Summit: - 200 gather to express their anger...
200 people from Canberra and the surrounding regions today joined Senator Kate Lundy to discuss the cuts to the childcare sector in the last 15 months.
"Today's meeting is a good example of how the community is feeling about the Howard Governments short-sighted approach to the care of our children.
"Today we heard from parents who are being forced out of work due to the increases that have been the proverbial straw for them. The Summit also heard from childcare workers and directors from out-of school hours care and long day care who were seriously considering closing their doors due to the cuts.
"The meeting unanimously passed a series of resolutions including a strong condemnation of the Federal Government and their attack on families, children and workers in the childcare sector.
"The existing campaign committee will be strengthened and reinvigorated by a large number of interested people from the Summit. The campaign committee was created over a year ago and has been raising awareness of the implications of the Liberal's attack on so many people in our community.
"A delegation from the meeting, consisting of Parents (including a mother forced to give up work due to childcare fee increases) and carers have requested a meeting with the Minister to convey the level of anger that was felt at today's summit.
"It is quite obvious that the Prime Minister and his Government have no idea about the concerns of families. Mr Howard and his out of touch Ministers continue to try to evade what is a loud cry of despair" Senator Lundy concluded.
Senator Lundy will be available for interviews at the Canberra Labor Club from 12.30 pm tomorrow, May 31, 1997
Please call Robyn Blackwell for further information on 277 3334 or 248 7462 / 015 201177 (ah)
Extract from the CURRENT SENATE
HANSARD Database
Date: 30 October 1997 (15:07)
Page: 8205
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
CD Prices
Senator LUNDY (Australian Capital Territory) (3.07 p.m.)--I move:
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts (Senator Alston), to a question without notice asked by Senator Lundy today, relating to CD prices.
Senator Alston is completely oblivious to the damage that will be caused to the Australian record industry if parallel importing is permitted. This government's total disregard for the thousands of jobs that will be jeopardised by parallel importing further demonstrates their lack of concern for jobs, job security and small business.
Senator Alston's ludicrous assertion that CDs are cheaper in New Zealand and the United States ignores the fact that the US has lower sales tax and lower regulatory rates for artists and composers. New Zealand does not have a strong record industry like Australia's, and in fact most of their major artists come here because our record industry offers them some protection and security. There is no real investment in local talent in New Zealand, their taxation system is different and they have lower advertising rates, which impacts upon the cost of CDs.
Senator Alston's bungled efforts in this matter are highlighted by the fact that neither the United States nor New Zealand allow parallel importing. In fact, as far as I am aware, no OECD country allows parallel importing. The basic fact is that, if parallel importing is to be allowed, then Australian artists will be worse off. Japan, which is probably one example that we could argue does allow parallel importing, does so at a higher retail price than Australia.
How does Senator Alston propose to ensure that any potential drop in the wholesale price of CDs will be passed on to consumers? Already one leading Australian company, Shock Records, have pointed out that, although their recommended retail price is $27.95, their products are often sold for $30. In other words, Minister, your government cannot guarantee that retailers will pass on any savings to consumers. Your proposals will do absolutely nothing to benefit Australian consumers and instead will destabilise a vital industry for the sake of a possible saving of $1.60.
I cannot believe that Senator Alston actually buys CDs. If he bothered to visit a few local retailers here in Canberra--we could certainly do with a few more Liberal dollars spent locally--he might discover that most department or chain stores offer between $3 and $7 off the recommended retail price. Parallel importing, which will place at risk thousands of jobs, will not improve the current state of record prices.
But the major concern to Australian small businesses is the risk to jobs and job security resulting from the proposed changes. Approximately 95 per cent of recordings currently sold in Australia are locally manufactured, and the job security of thousands of people presently employed in this thriving local industry will be placed at risk.
Senator Alston is also content to place at risk hundreds of jobs in the freight industry. CD distribution is one of the biggest users of freight in Australia, and job security in the freight industry will be at risk if parallel importing is allowed.
I question whether Senator Alston is genuinely committed to maintaining a vibrant and world renowned music industry. If the minister has his way, artists like Savage Garden, You Am I, Hoodoo Gurus and countless others would not exist. Yet again Senator Alston demonstrates complete insensitivity and a total lack of understanding of the implications that parallel importing will have on Australian jobs and Australian culture.
I am gravely concerned that the minister, who is also responsible for all matters relating to intellectual property in the area of new media, is taking this position with respect to parallel importing, with its impact on copyright and neighbouring rights. This is of major concern and has no doubt contributed to the lack of confidence that this sector has in Senator Alston as the minister for these matters.
28 May 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
IPAC Report:
Senator Alston calls the online needs of rural and regional communities an 'ambit claim'.
The Information Policy Advisory Council (IPAC) today released its report into online services in regional and rural Australia and the Minister seems less than enthusiastic about it.
Senator Kate Lundy, member of the Senate Communications Legislation Committee, criticised Senator Richard Alston for opening his address with the words " ..Well, this is the ultimate ambit claim".
In addressing a press conference at the launch of the report, Mark Needham, Chair of the IPAC Working group, emphasised the importance of implementing the recommendations as quickly as possible.
"The Government has once again shown that it is big on rhetoric but small on action when it comes to the needs of rural and regional Australia. This report has excellent recommendations in it, and if implemented, would see regional Australia on a par with the services available in Australia's major cities.
"It is a pity that the report of the first ministerial reference given to IPAC is going to be put in the 'too hard' basket. The last thing the Minister should be doing is waiting for the market to govern whether rural Australia gets the online services they deserve and need.
"While IPAC refers to its recommendations as being strategically important for Australia the Minister merely thinks that they are 'legitimate aspirations', especially with respect to digital services for regional Australia.
"The Minister has the power to achieve most of the goals set out in the report but it is a matter of whether the Minister has the will. From the response so far it would appear that Richard Alston and the Liberal Government are not going to assist regional and rural Australians in benefiting from the information technology revolution." concluded Senator Lundy.
For comment please contact Kate Lundy or Robyn Blackwell on 277 3334
28 May 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
1997 Childcare Summit
Senator Lundy has issued an invitation to the Canberra community to attend the 1997
Childcare Summit that will be held at Parliament House on Friday, May 30, 1997 from 12 -
1.30pm.
Senator Lundy today told The Chronicle that "The idea of a Summit was as a response
to the concern and frustration that many parents were relating to me with regard to cuts
in Childcare funding in both last year's and this years Federal budget.
"The strong impression that myself and many other working parents have got from the
Howard Government is that we have three options - pay more, opt out of care or accept a
lower standard. All of these options must be rejected.
"I would like to appeal to parents to attend this summit which will examine issues
such as how the cuts will affect you and your children - now and in the future. We will
discuss what we, as a community, can do about this attack on childcare." Senator
Lundy concluded.
Please call Robyn Blackwell on 230 0411 for further information about the Summit.
27 May 1997 - MEDIA STATEMENT
If you can't afford a ticket to New Zealand.....
As the Patron of ACT Rugby Union, Senator Kate Lundy would like to extend an invitation to all members and guests of the Canberra Labor Club in Belconnen to join her to cheer on the Brumbies this Saturday.
EXTRACT FROM SENATE HANSARD: Monday, May 26, 1997
.........I would like to finish on a more positive note. The Canberra community had a rare
opportunity to collectively smile last weekend, and I am referring, of course, to the
magnificent win by the Brumbies, the ACT Rugby Union team--
Senator Vanstone--You shameless parochialists.
Senator LUNDY--Absolutely. The ACT Brumbies' contribution to the Super 12
Series is something that you, I am sure, would appreciate, had you seen them play. The
achievements of this team have really captured the imagination of Canberra and the
surrounding region, leading with a sensational style of rugby that has not been seen for a
while. They are off to face Auckland next Saturday.
On behalf of everybody here, I want to wish them luck. It is likely to be a very tough
game. Regardless of the outcome, I want to thank the Brumbies for giving us a lift.
Congratulations on your achievements. All those who made the season possible--the fans,
the conditioning coaches, the ACT board, partners, the officials and the lot--deserve
recognition for something that has made us all feel pretty good at a pretty low moment in
our lives.
end.
Senator Lundy will be available for comment on Saturday at the Labor Club from 12.00 pm.
Attached is a flyer produced by Senator Lundy for the Brumbies finals game on Saturday.
For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on 277 3334
28 May 97 - MEDIA STATEMENT
Report released today - Women and Sport: coverage remains poor.
Senator Kate Lundy today expressed her concerns about the state of media coverage of women in sport. Senator Lundy was commenting on the report by Dr Murray Phillips entitled Illusionary Image: A Report on the Media Coverage and Portrayal of Women's Sport in Australia 1996 which was launched today by Mr Warwick Smith MP, Minister for Sport.
"I believe there is a strong need for the Government, media and sporting bodies to work together on this issue. However, I am concerned that this issue will be relegated to the bottom of John Howard's political agenda, meeting the same fate as other policies which affect women.
"It is obvious that just encouraging the media is not enough to increase quality coverage of women's sports and achievements. This situation requires more comprehensive strategies that the Government must take responsibility for implementing.
"It is a simple proposition. As a great sporting nation, we need to be proud of all of our sportspeople." Senator Lundy concluded
For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell or Kate Lundy on 277 3334
23 May 1997 - MEDIA NOTICE
Senator Kate Lundy will be hosting an ALP women's forum to be held at Gorman House Arts Centre this Sunday, May 25, 1997.
Carmen Lawrence will be addressing the Status of Women Policy Committee and other interested ALP women as the guest speaker.
The afternoon will commence at 4pm with Dr Lawrence addressing the group at 5.30pm.
For further information, please contact Robyn Blackwell on 248 7462 0r 015 201177
12 May 1997 - Media Statement
ACT Childcare reflects Howard's attack on women
Senator Kate Lundy today pointed to the 1.4% increase in unemployment for Canberra women in the month of April (according to unpublished seasonally adjusted ABS figures) as a possible result of women leaving the workforce because they could no longer afford increased childcare fees.
"Chris Buck, the President of the National Childcare Association said over a month ago that women were leaving the workforce because of rises in childcare fees and these figures for the ACT demonstrate this alarming trend.
"Once again, lower income earners and single mothers will be hardest hit with the introduction of a freeze on child care assistance funding levels and the suspected cuts in the forthcoming budget.
"At a recent meeting of ACT childcare directors, every single director from 75 community based centres reported that they had vacancies. In addition to this, family day care centres reported vacancies that haven't existed for years.
"John Howard looks set to rip $500 million from childcare funding, which is causing frustration, anger and insecurity amongst parents in the ACT.
"Already we are seeing the effect that the increase of between $20 - $40 per week in child care fees is having on families and I believe these increases are only the beginning. I also have real concerns about the funding levels of out of school hours care, which I believe may also be targeted.
"As the Labor Senator for the ACT, I am extremely concerned that the previous and impending budgets of the Howard Government are, and will continue to, erode the principles of high quality, affordable childcare services that have been available on an equitable basis to all ACT residents." Senator Lundy concluded.
Included is a letter from a constituent that summarises what many women are feeling about the Howard Government's polices. This constituent is quite happy to relate her story anonymously to the media.
For further information please contact Robyn Blackwell on 230 0411 or 277 3334
WASTE WATCH AND WHISTLEBLOWERS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED
Senator Kate Lundy today announced that the Federal Opposition has a new Waste Watch and Whistleblowers Committee, with the aim of exposing Government waste and mismanagement, and the erosion of standards in Government services.
The Committee will be convened by Public Administration and Government Services Shadow Minister Senator John Faulkner.
"The Committee has been formed to reinforce the Opposition’s continuing and successful exposure of the Howard Government’s waste of taxpayers’ money, abuse of due process, and failure to maintain the quality of Government services," Senator Lundy said.
" This committee is of particular significance and importance to the ACT because it is Canberra that is suffering the most under the federal government's maladministration.
"The Waste Watch and Whistleblowers Committee wants to hear where jobs have been awarded to "the cronies", contracts have been awarded to mates, where cuts to the public service have led to a deterioration in services to the public, and where electorates have been pork-barrelled for electoral purposes," Senator Lundy said.
"John Howard’s record in Government has failed to match his rhetoric on ethics and accountability. All indications are there is worse to come, with the Government admitting last week that the $1 billion Federation Fund will be doled out by the Prime Minister himself.
"The members of the Waste Watch and Whistleblowers Committee will follow up complaints through Parliamentary processes and expose waste and rorts when they are revealed."
Senator Lundy will be holding a door stop interview at midday,
Friday 13 June 1997, at the Senate Entrance, Parliament House.
FOR COMMENT: Kate Lundy or Matthew Cossey 277 3334 or 0419 299 510
The social experiment continues….. this time 49,000 young Australians lose
"The Coalition Government has shattered any remaining specks of credibility they may have had with battlers as a result of their decision to cut support for 13,000 young Australians, and reducing it for 36,000 others." Senator Lundy said in response to the announcement from Senator Newman that allowances payable to young people in need were being restructured.
"The consolidation of the range of allowances previously available into the Youth Allowance whilst providing increases to some young people, changes the principles upon which those allowances were based to the detriment of young people, their dignity and their independence.
"Support will be completely cut off from under 21 year olds who are looking for work if their parents earn more than $41,000 combined income per annum. Canberra’s median annual income is $45,000 compared to a national average of $27,500. This means this particular aspect will affect Canberra’s youth to a far greater degree.
"Already young people in the ACT and region have been suffering with record levels of unemployment, with official May figures citing 26.3% of 15-19 year olds looking for work and not finding it.
"These figures are ACT specific and do not include Queanbeyan or regional youth unemployment, or the fact that many young people migrate to areas where there is more work likely to be available.
"Unemployed 16-18 year olds will disappear statistically and from the minds of this brutal Liberal Government as a result of this decision"
"We have seen a graphic example this week as to the number of young people in our region desperate for a job through the Fire Brigades recruitment advertisement, which targeted this very age group. They had about 2,500 applicants. They will employ 24.
For more information, contact Kate Lundy 2773334
IT Outsourcing - Public interest to private profits
Treasurer Peter Costello confirmed the outsourcing of all of the Commonwealth information technology, to be concluded by 1998-99.
"Concern for the outsourcing plan has been expressed widely across all industry sectors and major departments, with only the Department of Finance and OGIT themselves supporting the move wholeheartedly.
"This measure will compromise the public interest for sake of the private profits for the multinational IT corporations. Security issues, including commonwealth liability for mistakes and breaches of privacy are issues still to be resolved.
"The economics of outsourcing are also unproven in Australian circumstances, with the Government relying on one example only (Dept of Veterans Affairs) to justify this decision. This is despite clear evidence that the returns to Government are often erratic, and in some cases result in major cost blow-outs, as is evidenced in the South Australian Government’s contract with EDS.
OGIT set to grow:
OGIT have begun building an empire with a boost of $13.3m over the next two years to "co-ordinate formal market testing processes across agencies" and to "ensure that an open competitive process is followed". (page 53, Budget Paper no. 2)
"This is like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank. OGIT have already compromised the interests of small Australian IT firms by modelling their process to achieve IT outsourcing on the US – a system which was designed by, and clearly favours the multinationals.
"After questioning in additional estimates prior to the budget, it appears that OGIT has played the role of clearing house for the IT multinationals. Only in Australia would the potential vendors have the upper hand over the Government in the pre-tender stages. They will be laughing all the way to bank, at the expense of local businesses." Senator Lundy said.
"Outsourcing of IT infrastructure may provide limited savings to the Government, but they are not guaranteed. In return for this comparatively small saving, there is:
| A net loss of jobs, with the Government conceding that only 2000 of the total 2800 IT workers being laid off will have a chance at employment |
| Departments becoming captive to long term contracts with such complex transition processes that it will be impossible for true competition principles to apply beyond the first contract. |
| Only multinationals will get a look in because of the way the contract process is being managed and structured. |
| Long term damage to industry development in the IT sector, which has fed off the need for large departments to advance their systems and improve their in house efficiencies over the years. |
| Any small business which does get a piece of the action will be subservient to a benevolent multinational, compromising the vitality and independence of our local IT sector. |
| The Government has indicated (again in additional estimates) that it will not be making the tender evaluation process of the outsourcing contracts public, raising questions about the integrity of the process, particularly conditions the Government may choose to attach to the tender, such as regional location of data centres. |
For more information, contact Kate Lundy on 2773334.
