Australian Telecommunications Summit Strategies for a competitive telecommunications and ICT industry. Sydney 30 July 2003 Broadband: Is there any other issue so pressing, so important that it will determine one way or the other the very survival of communities? Let me begin by reasserting Labor’s commitment to broadband. Labor’s vision for Australia is for universal [...]
Monthly Archives: July 2003
The Coalition’s cultural divide
The Coalition has put community cultural activities on the backburner, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics today releasing findings that reveal the Commonwealth Governments funding of Community Cultural Activities has more than halved, falling from $53.3 million (2000-01) to $24.7 million (2001-02) a total of $28.6 million or a decrease of 53.6%. This meanness is [...]
Coalition flicks ICT procurement problems to SMEs to solve
Once again the Coalition has missed the point on ICT procurement. The “Selling ICT to Government” Guide released today is only half of the picture – explaining what ICT small businesses can do for themselves to get government contracts. Predictably, the other half of the picture is missing. Where is the document entitled “How Government [...]
Cathy Freeman: Thankyou for the memories and the inspiration
On behalf of the Federal Labor Party, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Cathy Freeman for all she has done for women, sport, indigenous Australians and Australia. Kathy is both an icon of a successful Australian woman and a person who continues to warm everyone’s heart with her down-to-earth style. I wish her [...]
Museum Review a time warp back to the 1950’s
The review of the National Museum of Australia advocates a whitewashing of Australian History. This is in accordance with John Howard’s view that Australia should focus on the great achievements of white men in Australia, rather than the complex and diverse stories that make up Australian culture. This disappointing review recommends that we should be [...]
What happens after incubation?
Senator Alston has been quick to praise the organisations that received funding from the Building on IT Strengths (BITS) Incubator Program. However the Howard Government has created uncertainty for these incubators, and has not committed to funding this program beyond July 1 2004. The last budget presented the government with an opportunity to provide forward [...]
An Australian Inspiration: Mark Philippoussis
I offer my Congratulations to Mark Philippoussis for his achievements to date on the international tennis circuit. Mark Philippoussis is a proud, persistent achiever that has grown stronger as a result of the setbacks and challenges that have punctuated his sporting career. Philippoussis’ pride in his Greek heritage and his Australian citizenship represents the wonderful [...]
Coalition only paid lip-service to Open Source alternative
The Howard Government has only feigned interest in Open Source Software, delivering no practical outcomes other than a seminar earlier this year. Once again it has been left up to Labor, both at a state and federal level, to take the initiative and investigate Open Source Software as an alternative to proprietary software. Some of [...]
Film censorship concern
The closing down last night of the screening in Sydney of the movie Ken Park is disturbing. This follows the decision of the Office of Film and Literature Classification to refuse classification to the film. I believe that in a free society adults should be able to view whatever they want, provided that those involved [...]
The Arts Portfolio enters a new era
I am extremely pleased to be taking responsibility for the Arts Portfolio in addition to my existing Shadow Ministerial Portfolios of Information Technology and Sport. Arts form the basis for Australian culture and self-identity. It is important that Governments pay them the attention they deserve, or we risk losing our cultural heritage. I have extremely [...]
