 
29 April 1999 - Media Release
AYPAC closure: Coalition muzzles Youth
The Howard Government’s decision to withdraw funding to AYPAC is an attempt to
muzzle the youth policy watchdog AYPAC, Shadow Youth Affairs Minister Kate Lundy said
today.
The Australian Youth Policy Action Coalition (AYPAC), which is Australia’s peak
youth representative body, has been forced to cease operations following a decision by the
Howard Government to withdraw their funding.
"AYPAC has established itself as an independent body that represents a wide range
of youth organisations and has a reputation for being an effective watchdog for the
interests of young Australians, Senator Lundy said.
"Their analysis of youth policy has been invaluable and they have been at the
forefront of campaigns representing the concerns pertinent to young people.
"AYPAC has always acted responsibly and impartially in representing youth views
and Labor recognises the importance of this input. That is why Labor is opposing the
Government’s actions.
"The Coalition has shown itself to be incapable of accepting criticism. Dr
Kemp’s decision to de-fund AYPAC has exposed the Government as incapable of debating
issues on an intellectual level, preferring to use the muzzle instead.
"This is shameful policy and undermines the democratic participation of youth in
Australian domestic policy." Senator Lundy said.
40/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488295
PM must commit to opening Paralympics
If the Prime Minister is so keen to open the Sydney 2000 Games then he should also
commit himself to opening the 2000 Paralympic Games, said Shadow Sports Minister, Senator
Kate Lundy.
"Mr Howard seems pretty keen to be in the spotlight by opening the Sydney Games,
so I urge him to make the same commitment to Paralympic sport.
Speaking during debate on a senate Motion on the Prime Minister opening the Olympic
Games, Senator Lundy accused the Coalition of ignoring grass-roots and non-Olympic sport.
"In many respects, the achievements of disabled athletes are far more
inspirational and emotive than those of their able-bodied counterparts. The Paralympics
deserves a higher profile and a higher status than it currently enjoys.
"If the Prime Minister is so keen to involve himself in opening the Olympics, then
I urge him to take an equal interest in the Paralympics.
Senator Lundy said Australia should avoid the controversy of the 1996 Atlanta Games
where President Clinton opened the main Games but Vice-President Gore opened the disabled
Games.
39/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 OR 0418 488295
Pain-killing injection ban welcomed
The decision by the International Rugby Board to ban pain-killing injections for rugby
union players is a positive and welcome step towards eliminating drugs in sport, Shadow
Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
Under the new guidelines announced this week, pain-killing injections and local
anaesthetics will no longer be allowed before or during a game, except in "highly
unusual circumstances."
"The International Rugby Board should be congratulated for putting players health
first, Senator Lundy said.
"Pain-killing injections increase the risk of permanent injury to players. They
are used to numb injured areas or the pain resulting from injuries.
"Pain-killing injections are often used in a manner that makes them
‘performance enhancing’ and therefore their use must be strictly regulated.
"A truly effective anti-doping agenda must also include pain-killing drugs, which
often cause greater damage to athletes than other banned substances.
"Other sports should take heed of the innovative stance adopted by the
International Rugby Board and consider banning the use of local anaesthetics administered
by injection." Senator Lundy said.
38/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 OR 0418 488295
Coalition set to sell management of 'top secret' information
"If Minister Fahey gets his way, the next Commonwealth asset earmarked for sale by
the Coalition will be the Secure Gateway Environment, according to answer from a question
without notice in the Senate last week," Senator Kate Lundy said today.
The response confirmed that the Secure Gateway Environment (SGE), the Commonwealth
Government information security warehouse which distributes and stores classified
information for a large number of agencies and departments, is to be sold off.
"The SGE provides for the secure transfer of data not only between departments,
but between the Commonwealth Government and the rest of the world. It is critical
infrastructure: the central nervous system through which almost all Government information
passes" Senator Lundy said.
The SGE is the only organisation to be certified by the Defence Signals Directorate
(DSD) to provide security up to, and including, Highly Protected, the civilian
classification equivalent to the Top Secret national security classification.
"If Mr Fahey allows the SGE to fall into private hands, it will potentially leave
Australia vulnerable to information attack. It's about time the coalition government
realised that information gateways such as the SGE must be considered critical
infrastructure in every sense and treated accordingly.
"The Government has provided no justification for this sale beyond short-term
revenue raising. This is a shameful excuse for exposing Australia unnecessarily to an
information security risk.
37/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Minister's "spam" fuels online content debate
Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister Assisting on Information Technology, today called
on Senator Alston to apologise to recipients of "spam" emanating from his
Ministerial office.
Unsolicited e-mails, or spam, involves sending out e-mails that are unwanted and
unwelcome, and is the subject of lawsuits in the United States and Europe.
"In the midst of the debate about internet content, the Minister has ignored
internet 'netiquette' by sending unsolicited e-mail on this issue to about 700 internet
users in Australia," Senator Lundy said.
"I received several complaints yesterday about the Minister's spam, which arrived
in people's inbox as the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Bill was being
tabled in the Senate.
"This demonstrates just how inept the Minister is in understanding online culture
and practice.
"The Minister's actions in sending out spam is quite ironic considering his
outspoken comments about internet content, particularly his expressed desire to protect
users from unwelcome content!
"This bizarre behaviour by Minister Alston follows his backflip on the issue of
internet content management. Senator Alston had to change his position after the facts
became available in the recently released CSIRO report on internet content, which endorsed
the view expressed by Labor that blocking access by Internet Service Providers would be
largely ineffective.
"It is my intention to draw to the attention of the Senate Select Committee on
Information Technology the Minister's actions in using spam to promote his views on
internet content management," Senator Lundy said.
It's worth noting that the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Bill
doesn't apply to e-mail.
36/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Coalition bill threatens Olympic training
Hundreds of international athletes planning to use Australian University campuses to
train for the Sydney 2000 Olympics may have to find alternative facilities if the
Government passes the Higher Education Amendment (VSU) Bill, Shadow Minister for Sport,
Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
"Australian University campuses will be used by dozens of countries as training
centres prior to the Sydney Olympics. However if the Government passes the VSU Bill, these
facilities may no longer be maintained at a standard suitable for Olympic training
purposes, Senator Lundy said.
"Australian universities currently provide over $160 million in sporting
facilities infrastructure and spend $17 million each year on their maintenance.
"Without the collection of compulsory student amenity fees, these facilities may
not be sufficiently maintained and this will have major ramifications in the lead up to
Olympics.
"The Coalition think it’s OK for Olympic athletes to use university
facilities but they want to stop universities from collecting the fees that maintain them!
"If Minister Kelly wants to ensure that overseas Olympic athletes are provided
with the best possible training facilities then she must lobby against the passage of the
VSU legislation.
"Universities must continue to collect amenities fees so that the construction and
maintenance of sport and recreational facilities continues.
"Ms Kelly must campaign against the VSU bill given that its passage will devastate
sport and recreation on University campuses and potentially damage Olympic
preparations." Senator Lundy said.
35/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488295
University sport faces crisis - Kelly must campaign against VSU
legislation
Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for Sport, has called on Minister Jackie Kelly to
lobby her Government colleagues to withdraw legislation that will devastate sport and
recreation on Australian university campuses.
"The Federal Government’s plan to ban the collection of compulsory student
amenity fees will effectively mean that University sport and recreational opportunities
will cease to exist, Senator Lundy said.
"If the Government’s Higher Education Amendment Bill 1999 is passed, it will
result in a massive decline in Australian university sport.
"Australian universities currently provide over $160 million in sporting
infrastructure to campuses, and the main thing that ensures the construction and
maintenance of these sports facilities is university amenity fees.
Senator Lundy said that Jackie Kelly must lobby the Government to withdraw legislation
that will devastate sport and recreation on Australian university campuses.
"The Government’s own report on sport - Rethinking the funding of community
sporting and recreational facilities: A sporting chance - found that the excellent
facilities offered by Australian universities provide great opportunities for community
involvement in sport.
"The VSU legislation will not only devastate university sport but result in a
reduction in sport and recreation services for the general community as well as job
losses.
"It is the Minister’s responsibility to ensure that the jobs of 3000
Australians directly employed in university sport will not be lost.
"When the future of university sport is under threat then the Sports Minister must
step in to prevent the passage of such damaging legislation." Senator Lundy said.
34/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295 or (020 62300411
Coterie of costly consultants deny Aussie IT firms a fair go
Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister Assisting on Information Technology, has criticised
Government payments to outsourcing consultants as an outrageous waste of taxpayers money.
"The Government claims their reason for the outsourcing is to save costs and yet
some of these consultants are earning $3000 to $4000 a day for their 'strategic advice' to
Minister Fahey.
"These IT consultants are receiving enormous payments from the Government, and yet
their advice has led to the Government structuring their outsourcing program to exclude
Australian companies from the primary contracts.
"The Coalition through their coterie of consultants are not allowing Australian IT
firms a share of the IT outsourcing cake. They are selling our IT industry down the river
and reaping huge financial rewards along the way.
"The Government is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money on a program
that is in effect selling out Australia’s IT industry and costing Australian jobs in
both the public sector and small to medium-sized IT firms.
"The IT outsourcing program has been plagued with problems, including impossible
tendering timetables, discrimination against small and medium sized enterprises, dubious
savings claims, cancelled tenders and allegations of conflict of interest.
"These latest revelations about the enormous taxpayer funded payments to
consultants vindicates Labor’s call for a moratorium on outsourcing to halt the
damage that is being inflicted on the Australian IT industry." Senator Lundy said.
Details of IT consultants payments:
From Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
hearings,
17 February 1999.
Program 10 - Office of asset Sales and IT Outsourcing.
Senator Kate Lundy asked (Hansard 17/02/99, page 227, Finance and Public
Administration): What is the value of their (Shaw Pittman) current contract, or what are
the terms and the value?
Answer: The value of the Shaw Pittman Potts and Trowbridge Consultancy Agreement is
based on a number of people deployed from Shaw Pittman Potts and Trowbridge.
OASITO deploys consultants employed under the Consultancies Agreement on a monthly
basis, inclusive of accommodation and living expenses, and on a daily or hourly basis for
work performed in the United States:
The contract rates for individuals in the contract are:
Per Month: (Converted to Aust Dollars at an exchange rate of 63 cents)
 | Partner $US85,000,00 ($134,926) |
| Associate, $US65,000 ($103,175) |
| IT Specialist, $US65,000 ($103,175) |
| Counsel, $US77,5000 ($123,015) |
Hourly/Daily: (Converted to Aust Dollars at an exchange rate of 63 cents)
| Partner, $US360.00hr or $US3000 per day ($571 per hour/$4739 a day) |
| Mid Level Associate, $US175.00 per hour ($278hr or $2301 per day) |
| Mid Level Associate, $US200 hr ($317hr or $2619 day) |
| Associate, $US325.00 hr ($515 per hour) |
33/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295 or (020 62300411
Government networking the city, not the country
Rural and regional Australians are still paying more to access the internet, according
to the Shadow Minister Assisting on Information Technology, Senator Kate Lundy.
"The Government’s policies have failed to produce cheaper opportunities for
equitable internet access, with thousands of regional Australians still paying STD charges
to access basic internet services," Senator Lundy said.
"Under the Coalition, an urban communications bias has emerged. Fewer than 15 per
cent of adults living in non-metropolitan areas have internet access, which is half the
number of metropolitan internet users.
"Remote internet users are paying up to $7 per hour plus local access charges,
compared to the metropolitan rate of between 80 cents and $1.50.
"Senator Alston has had three years to address the inequities faced by
non-metropolitan internet users. Yet,under the Howard/Fischer Government, the IT divide
between rural and metropolitan users has increased.
"All of the Government’s plans are contingent on the further sale of Telstra.
The Coalition is effectively blackmailing the electorate rather than delivering equitable
and affordable internet access.
"Being part of the information society is critical to regional Australia. The
Government must address the barriers involved in rural IT, including inadequate
technology, higher costs, lack of service provisions and internet training," Senator
Lundy said.
32/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295 or (020 62300411
Discriminatory outsourcing imperils Aussie innovators
In an address this week to the AIIA Canberra Manager's Forum, Senator Kate
Lundy accused the Federal Government of discriminating against Australian IT companies:
"Labor is opposed to the Government's IT Outsourcing Program as it
actively denies opportunities for Australian SME's to participate as principal contractors
to the Commonwealth Government. Labor has justifiably called for a moratorium on
this program to halt the damage that is being inflicted on the Australian IT
industry."
'The IT outsourcing program has been plagued by problems, including
impossible tendering timetables, discrimination against SME's, dubious savings claims,
cancelled tenders and allegations of conflict of interest. These issues have been
aired through over sixty hours of Senate estimates transcripts', Senator Lundy said.
'Minister Fahey, who is responsible through the Office of Asset Sales and
IT Outsourcing (OASITO), has ignored the concerns of Aussie IT companies for too
long. He has apparently choosen to employ heavy-handed tactics, including forcing
particpants to sign 'deeds of secrecy' to suppress industry criticism of the program.'
'Finally Australian companies are starting to speak out, with several
prominent IT innovators going public with their concerns and frustrations over the harm
the program is doing to this vital industry of the future.'
'The last straw for the industry has been the awarding of the latest
Commonwealth IT contract (the Group 5 cluster, which includes DOCITA) to Advantra, a
consortium with the same participants as IBMGSA (which have the DOFA IT contract), being
IBM, Telstra and Lend Lease.'
'The Group 5 tender was touted early by Minister Fahey as going to an
Australian company, however, the Australian IT sector has been outraged at the audacity of
Minister Fahey and Alston to try and present the Advantra bid as a win for an Aussie
SME'.
Unfortunately the price will be paid by the acknowledged front runner,
Australian company IPEX, who have to foot the $1m plus bidding bill.
'There is little hope for the future of our IT sector if the Government
does not support it. Our IT innovators rely on Government contracts to establish
export credentials and opportunities to grow.
The Federal Government has discriminated against Australian IT companies
and the Ministers, Fahey and Alston, have failed to meet their rhetorical commitments to
support local industry, innovation and jobs.' Senator Lundy concluded.
31/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on 62300411 or 0418 488295
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