PM robs Canberra of CHOGM
"The Governments decision to change the venue for CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting) in 2001 from Canberra to Brisbane is unacceptable" Senator
Kate Lundy said today.
"The Federal Coalition Government had previously committed to Canberra, with
the local Liberals quick to seize upon the decision as a demonstration of support for
Canberra by the Federal Coalition, in particular the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister has demonstrated over the last four years that he has both an
ideological aversion to Canberra as well as a strong personal dislike, epitomised by his
refusal to occupy the traditional home of Australian Prime Ministers: the Lodge,"
Senator Lundy said.
The announcement to deny Canberra this event, which was cynically made on New Years
Eve, has outraged the local community, with even the local Liberals fuming.
"I don't accept that this decision is fair, given the strong public commitment to
Canberra and the plans that have already been made for the special year of the
Centenary of Federation, 2001. The decision should be changed".
"I will be calling on representatives from all sides of politics to rally around
and demand the Prime Minister stick to his commitment and have CHOGM here in Canberra.
I will be campaigning to have the decision reversed."
"The reasons for the change are flimsy and unsubstantiated. I do not believe
this city is incapable of hosting such an event. Canberra has come a long way and
would benefit from the international profile as we develop our excellent international
reputation as a leading tourism, education, administration and business region.
"It is entirely appropriate that such an event be hosted in the Nation's
Capital. The symbolism is very important for the whole country, particulalry because
it is our Centenary of Federation .
110/99. Contact: Kate Lundy on 0419 421553
Drugs in sport legislation requires proper scrutiny
“The Federal Parliament must be given the appropriate opportunity to scrutinise
and debate legislation dealing with the importation of performance enhancing drugs in
sport,” Shadow Sports Minister, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“Senator Vanstone is trying to push through the Customs Legislation Amendment
(Criminal sanctions and Other Measures) Bill as an ‘all or nothing’ vote without
allowing proper examination and debate.
“This complex legislation will, amongst other things, permit videotaped
strip-searches, sampling of human tissues for biological testing and the opening of
personal mail by customs officers.
“These serious matters require proper scrutiny by the Parliament. We are not going
to support this legislation in toto just because Senator Vanstone has been unable to
properly manage her legislative timetable.
“It’s not as if she didn’t know the Olympics were coming up.
“The Labor Party has a proud record of tackling drugs in sport.
“It was Labor that introduced the original legislation establishing the Australian
Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) - which was a world first for the establishment of a drug agency
under government legislation.
“We want to have a drug free Olympics but we also want proper debate and scrutiny
of legislation that has significant implications both in terms of criminal sanctions and
civil liberty issues”, Senator Lundy said.
109/99.Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
No win for non-profit sports clubs under GST
Non-profit sporting clubs are in a no-win situation under the GST, Shadow Minister for
Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“Non-profit sporting clubs, which provide unique opportunities for sporting
competition and general involvement in physical activity, will be worse off under the GST,
regardless of whether they register for GST or not”, Senator Lundy said.
The GST will apply to non-profit organisations with an annual turnover in excess of
$100,000. This includes membership fees.
“Many of these non-profit sporting clubs will be forced to decide whether to
register for GST and spend all their time and efforts on complex compliance paperwork, or
not register and be unable to claim back any tax inputs credits,” Senator Lundy said.
“If a club decides not to register for GST they will have to absorb the increased
costs of goods and services.
“The GST will apply to entry fees for sporting competitions, sporting equipment,
uniforms, coaching clinics, venue hire, insurance premiums and affiliation fees.
“Many of these organisations struggle to raise funds through lamington drives,
fetes and raffles.
“Compliance costs will soak up money desperately needed by community-based clubs
participating in local sporting and recreational activities.
“Treasurer Costello claims these non-profit sporting clubs have a choice.
“Their choice is either to register and face increased compliance costs and spend
their precious resources on accountants; or not register and pay higher charges for all
their inputs.
“They will be worse off whatever they do,” Senator Lundy said.
108/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334
Australia’s sporting success faces its greatest challenge - the
GST
“Australia has enjoyed unbelievable sporting success this year, however the
greatest challenge to our sporting future will be the impost of a 10 per cent tax on all
sporting activities”, Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“Our sporting success has been built on the basis of equal opportunity and access
for all Australians - but the GST will impose an unfair and discriminatory tax on every
sporting activity.
“The GST will impact on our future sporting success because it creates a financial
barrier by taxing participation, spectators and club members.
“The hypocrisy of the Government is staggering. On the one hand they talk about
the need to have a healthy active society and then they slap a tax on playing and watching
sport.
“My greatest concern is that the GST taxes physical activities involving young
people.
“Many young people spend their limited money on sports-related activities. They
will not be receiving any tax concessions from Treasure Costello, which means the GST will
hit them hardest.
“Young athletes will face a tax every time they enter a competition or become a
member of a sporting club.
“They will be taxed on all sports coaching clinics, including learn-to-swim
classes and fitness classes.
“They will be taxed every time they buy tracksuits, runners, shorts or team
uniforms.
“They will be taxed on every piece of sporting equipment purchased.
“1999 has been a phenomenal year for Australian sport, but our next generation of
sports stars face a bigger hurdle next year - paying 10 % more every time they want to
play or watch sport.
“We are world champions in Rugby Union, Cricket, Tennis, Surfing, Hockey, Rugby
League, Netball, Baseball and individually we have dominated world in swimming, athletics,
squash, tenpin bowling, archery and sailing - but this success will not continue if sport
is taxed beyond the reach of young Australians,” Senator Lundy said.
107/99. .
Minister’s Million Dollar Drug Summit merely a talkfest
In senate estimates hearings today, Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Lundy, was told
that the Sports Minister’s Drug Summit, held in Sydney in November, cost taxpayers
over a million dollars.
“There is no justification for this expense given that no official communique was
signed by the 27 Olympic nations attending. Instead, merely a resolution by delegates from
the floor supporting a negotiated motherhood statement on drugs in sport was
endorsed”, Senator Lundy said.
“In another blatant waste, approximately 500 guests attended a taxpayer funded
Gala Dinner hosted by the Minister, although there were only 160 conference participants.
“With an estimated cost of $50,000 for this function alone, this outrageous
expense would save at least one Olympic sport program currently facing the funding axe.
“This glamorous and expensive event was constructed to give a platform to a
struggling Minister.
“The Drug Summit was all about Jackie Kelly being seen to be doing something.
“The Minister previously refused to attend the IOC Drug Summit, apparently on the
grounds that it would save taxpayers money. Obviously such fiscal restraint is no longer a
priority!
“Genuine global consensus about anti-doping policies and control of anti-doping
agencies is no closer despite the enormous expense of Ms Kelly’s Drug Summit.
“An opportunity to show strong and effective leadership has been squandered.
“The Minister has constantly avoided answering tough policy questions about sport
and drugs in sport.
The Sports Minister’s International Drug Summit was a massive waste of taxpayers
money, with over $1 million being spent on a glorified talkfest, Senator Lundy said.
106/99.Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-62773334 or 0418 488295
Prime Minister's comments on PBL-Acxiom data warehouse insensitive to public concerns
The Prime Minister's comments yesterday on Brisbane radio station 4BC that "on the
information in front of me at the moment, it would appear that what is being stored is
information in relation to individuals that can be obtained now," demonstrates his
lack of empathy with the growing public disquiet on this issue, Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow
Minister Assisting on IT, said today.
"The collation of public register information such as that which is contained on
the electoral roll or in local council records is legitimate information that citizens are
compelled by law to hand over to government. It is another matter entirely to suggest that
the same information should be available to businesses for marketing purposes, Senator
Lundy said.
In fact during questioning of the AEC in Senate Estimates yesterday, Electoral
Commissioner Bill Gray said that the "use of that roll by some who clearly are
making, or using it for commercial purpose, is an issue that I think needs to be
addressed."
According to comments by Mr Andrew Robb, chief executive of Acxiom Australia, the
corporation's next strategy is to collect information from existing PBL databases,
including information on Ticketek, Star City Casino and ninemsn customers.
"The ethics of this are highly questionable. ninemsn customers, for example, were
promised that their information would never be sold to other businesses for marketing
purposes. That privacy promise is still available on their web site
(http://www.ninemsn.com.au). Any breach of this promise by ninemsn could have serious
implications under section 52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
Acxiom's final strategy, according to Mr Robb as reported in The Australian on 30
November 1999, is to add information from general customer records currently held by
retail companies, mail order companies, and in his words, banks and credit companies.
"In addition to the ethics of their conduct, the implications of these companies'
actions must be considered in light of the Banking Code of Conduct, the common law duty of
confidentiality for banks, and part 3A of the Privacy Act 1988.
The Prime Ministers position as reported by ninemsn is that ‘media magnate Kerry
Packer's plans for a giant database with personal details on as many as 15 million
Australians was not a cause for concern’.
"If this is the case then the Prime Minister is failing the leadership test on an
issue that affects all Australians, or as we now know, at least 15 million of us”,
Senator Lundy said.
106/99 Media contact Simon Tatz 6277 3334 0418 488 295
Government cutbacks to sport funding criticised by Kelly’s White Paper
“Shaping Up, the Government’s White Paper on Australian sport, is critical of
Government cuts to the Olympic Athlete Program and has called for increased funding of
sport”, Shadow Sports Minister, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“For the past year, Jackie Kelly has been proclaiming that this White Paper will
lead to the biggest shake-up of Australian sport in 25 years. Now she appears to be
backing away from this statement in light its recommendation to increase - not decrease -
Government funding.
“The review recognises ‘the success of the current sport system’ which
has resulted in 20 years of continuous improvement in Olympic performances. This is the
system that Labor established and I welcome the Taskforces’ acknowledgment of
Labor’s proud record.
The most significant recommendation is that ‘the level of funding to high
performance sport be maintained’, in part because the Government’s decision to
axe the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) ‘could severely affect Australia’s
international competitiveness’.
“The loss of OAP funding is causing great anxiety among many sporting
organisations and athletes. The Government’s decision to axe OAP funding is
short-sighted and ill conceived as the review makes abundantly clear.
“If Australia is to continue to enjoy international sporting success then OAP
funding must be continuous and consistent - not the roller-coaster funding ride we now
have under the Coalition.
Labor is concerned about the recommendations to increase off-budget funding through
gaming.
“Revenue from gaming is not a substitute for government investment is sport. The
Government must not replace Commonwealth investment in physical activity and community
wellbeing with Internet-based gaming.
Recommendations concerning the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) may threaten its
independence and ability to operate at arm’s length from other sporting
organisations.
“ASDA must be entrenched as a totally independent world-class drug-testing agency.
The success of ASDA, and even the success of Olympic drug testing, is based on its
independence.
The Taskforce rightly identifies Active Australia as being central to increasing
physical activity and participation and has called for a doubling of their funding.
“Labor has previously called on Minister Kelly to recognise the importance of
participatory-based programs by providing adequate funding, and this report has
highlighted the Minister’s deficiency in this area. The Government’s history of
funding cut backs, however, mean that this recommendation may never be implemented.
Labor is very concerned about the call for anti-siphoning laws to be changed in order
to raise revenue.
“There are anti-siphoning laws in place to ensure that popular Australian sports
are available on free-to-air television where possible. Many Australians cannot afford or
cannot access Pay-TV and any shift of sports to Pay-TV would disenfranchise millions of
sports fans.
“The Coalition inherited a first class sports policy from Labor, as the review
points out, however some of their recommendations will not benefit the sports sector and
will diminish the excellent structures currently in place.
“Minister Kelly must take heed of recommendations to increase Government sports
funding to ensure our continued international success and immediately rule out the
impracticable and unnecessary recommendations that will adversely affect Australian
sport,” Senator Lundy said.
105/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Defining moment in the history of disability sport
The 1999 Australian Sports Awards highlights the magnificent accomplishments of
Australian sport over the past year and shows that Paralympic athletes are receiving
recognition for their outstanding achievements, Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate
Lundy, said today.
“The fact that Louise Sauvage has been named Australian Female Athlete of the Year
is a tremendous boost to wheelchair athletics and a welcome recognition that Paralympic
sport is well and truly part of mainstream sport in Australia.
“I am thrilled that Louise’s achievements have been honoured by such a
prestigious award. 120 sports experts from a variety of national sporting organisations
judged these awards, in what was clearly the most outstanding field in the history of the
Australian Sports Awards.
“There is no doubt that Ian Thorpe and Louise Sauvage are the outstanding athletes
of 1999.
Senator Lundy congratulated all the winners of the 1999 Australian Sports Awards:
Ian Thorpe (Male Athlete of the Year),
Louise Sauvage (Female Athlete of the Year),
Grant Hackett (Junior Male Athlete),
Olympic Sprint Team (Junior Team of the Year),
Georgie Clarke and Lori Munz (Junior Female Athletes),
Maureen Boyle (Official of the Year),
Doug Frost (Coach of the Year),
Rob Curkpatrick (Executive of the Year),
The Australian Cricket Team (Team of the Year),
The Melbourne Storm (Domestic Team of the Year)
104/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
US data warehouse gets our credit card details
“When Australians give personal information to a bank for the purposes of
obtaining a credit card, they do not expect that this information will end up on a massive
US database”, Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister Assisting on Information
Technology, said today.
“However, Mr Andrew Robb, Acxiom Australia’s Chief Executive, yesterday named
credit companies as a key source of data for the PBL-Axciom data venture.
“Information provided to a bank for the purposes of obtaining a credit card and
subsequently provided by them to credit reporting bureaus is supposed to be protected by
the Privacy Act.
“Based on the recent comments of Mr Robb concerning the information sources being
accessed by PBL-Acxiom, it appears that the Corporation are exploiting serious loopholes
in the operability of the Privacy Act.
“The Government must immediately introduce private sector privacy legislation, or
move amendments to the Privacy Act which would protect an individuals details from
distribution for purposes other than what consumers have expressly authorised.
“If the US experience with Acxiom Corporation is anything to go by, their web site
makes it very clear that they do not allow people to check all information held about
them.
“This is in direct contrast to other legitimate users of consumer data, such as
the Credit Reference Association of Australia, who are bound under the rules and
regulations of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to release individuals files on a
application basis,” Senator Lundy said.
103/99.
