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29 June 2007Labor forces Government to listen to older CanberransToday Senator Kate Lundy, Federal Member for Canberra Annette Ellis MP and Federal Member for Fraser Bob McMullan MP joined together to urge all senior Australians and groups to make a submission by 20 July 2007 to the Senate Inquiry that Labor has established into the cost of living pressures facing older Australians. “Older Australians I meet at my community morning teas all over Fraser have told me about how they struggle to make ends meet on low fixed incomes – both aged pensioners and self-funded retirees” said Bob McMullan. “In particular, I have had a large number of representations from retired public servants who are struggling to maintain their living standards due to the indexation of their superannuation.” Annette Ellis added that she had met with many residents in her electorate of Canberra who are experiencing similar problems. “In the last two years, the price of food has increased by 9 per cent, and the price of petrol has increased by over 17 per cent. These prices are going up much faster than retiree incomes can cope with, and they suffer as a result,” said Ms Ellis. ACT Senator Kate Lundy pointed to the fact that while this is a large problem for the ACT currently, it is only going to become more widespread with time. “In 2005 the ABS noted that there were over 30,000 residents over the age of 65 living in the ACT, and that this was a group of the population that was rapidly increasing in number.” Federal Labor wants to give seniors in the ACT the chance to talk about how they make ends meet every day. That’s why Federal Labor had to force the Howard Government to agree to a Senate Inquiry. After 11 years in power, Mr Howard has lost touch with older Australians and families. Mr Howard recently said Australian families "have never been better off". The truth, however, is that many are struggling. Federal Labor wants to ensure that older Australians are not forgotten and left out during this time of prosperity. SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE 20 JULY 2007 For further information on the Senate Inquiry and on how to make a submission: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/older_austs_living_costs/tor.htm Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295
27 June 2007Canberra Leads the way in Adaptable HousingSenator Kate Lundy today attended the opening of three adaptable housing units in Weavell Place, Kambah . The units are part of the ACT Governments comprehensive plan to provide Canberrans with more affordable and adaptable housing options and demonstrate the ACT Governments initiative when it comes to building versatile housing. ‘Adaptable housing’ means that a structure that has the ability to be modified or extended at minimum cost to suit the changing needs of the people in the house, in this case the units are designed to accommodate the needs of disabled residents. This is an example of the ACT leading the way on affordable and adaptable housing, while the Howard Government has sat back and failed to act. The Howard Government has also failed to address Australia's housing affordability crisis. Federal Labor is always interested in housing projects, like this one, that offer new and creative ways to deliver affordable and versatile housing options. Only a Federal Labor Government will take Australias housing needs seriously. For example, Labor has committed to:
Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295
22 June 2007Howard's catch-up broadband pitch no help to Canberrans still in the broadband backwaterThe Howard Government's so-called Australia Connected ignores the plight of thousands of people in city, suburban and outer metropolitan areas that are denied access to broadband because of the poor quality of existing infrastructure. The recent Gungahlin Broadband Survey, conducted by Senator Kate Lundy, showed that Canberrans are still in the broadband backwater with 74 per cent of respondents reporting that they are not satisfied with the broadband speeds available to them. The survey also showed that 64.4 per cent of respondents could only access speeds of up to 512 kbps, falling well short of the 12 mbps Canberrans would be able to access to under Labor’s National Broadband Plan. “The results of the Gungahlin Broadband Survey demonstrate that there is high demand for quality broadband services in Canberra, and people are still missing out”, Senator Lundy said. “It is disappointing that after years of campaigning for reliable, modern broadband infrastructure in suburbs like Gungahlin, residents are still experiencing long waits for broadband access and unsatisfactory broadband speeds”, Mr McMullan said Unfortunately there are areas all over Canberra, like in Isaacs, Gungahlin and Dunlop, where people are unable to access broadband and are stuck on waiting lists or have given up applying for the service altogether. “There is nothing in the Howard Government's package that will resolve this problem faced by so many Canberrans”, Ms Ellis said. Many Canberrans unable to access Transact's separate network will continue to find themselves trapped by Telstra's existing, inferior network infrastructure, including broadband-blocking RIMs and Pair Gains. In contrast, Labor's Plan for a national Fibre To The Node (FTTN) network will upgrade the network in a way that existing broadband-blocking aspects of the network would be removed or bypassed by pushing optic fibre further into the suburbs to the 'nodes' or pillars. Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295 (Lundy), Patrick Myrtle 6247 4396 (McMullan) or Ash Musgrove 0419 020 419 (Ellis)
21 June 2007Howard Government willing to support anything in an attempt to save face on illicit drugs in sportIt appears that Ministers Brandis and Pyne will support any policy on illicit drugs in sport as long as it is different to the AFL. This morning, Minister Chris Pyne gave 'a great salute' to the NRL's approach to illicit drugs in sport and went on to say: "George Brandis and I regard the NRL's testing policy as a model for the rest of Australia's sporting codes to look to and … adopt" The NRL's policy is reportedly a two strike policy that gives players one chance before they are suspended for a drug offence. This support comes after giving the AFL's policy a dressing down on the doorstep of AFL House on the 25 May. Minister Brandis reinforced there that: "you can't have three strikes and zero tolerance at the same time". This morning the Howard Government have clearly back flipped on their zero tolerance commitment in May where they were firm in the position that they would give players no chance to rehabilitate before they are ousted Ministers - can you have two strikes and zero tolerance? This is further proof that the Government is engaging in election year grandstanding rather than developing good policy. Contact: Taryn Langdon 02 6277 3334 or 0417 148 059
19 June 2007Players must behaveWhether they like it or not – sports men and women are role models and as such players have a responsibility to behave themselves on and off the field. Increasingly it seems that some professional sports people think they are a law unto themselves when they are out late at night. In the regards to the alleged incident involving an AFL player in Darwin over the weekend - I praise the efforts of local NT Institute of Sport AFL coach Damian Hale. Damian is right – young women should not have to put up with such appalling behaviour, nor should any member of the general public. Week after week terrific performances on the field by our sporting heroes are undermined by poor behaviour by a few late at night – inevitably brings their sport into disrepute. Contact: Taryn Langdon 6277 3334 or 0417 148 059
13 June 2007Gungahlin Broadband Survey shows broadband needed for economic activity and growthThe most common reasons for a broadband connection in Gungahlin relate to education and small business, according to the results to date of my broadband survey of Gungahlin residents. This underlines Federal Labor's arguments that broadband facilitates economic activity and growth. Gungahlin is a dynamic area with many people investing in their own skills and education and undertaking entrepreneurial activity through their home-based businesses. This activity deserves to be supported and encouraged through the provision of affordable broadband infrastructure. Here is an outline of the results of 147 survey responses received by my office to date. I encourage people to keep sending in their surveys and we will update these results in a few weeks time. 82% of respondents had broadband, a majority through a 512 kbps (kilobits per second) ADSL service. 76% made comments that they were dissatisfied with the speed or quality of the service. There is a great deal of frustration that the maximum speed available is 1.5mbps (megabits per second). Disturbingly, users are reporting increased drop-outs, slower and erratic connection speeds, rather than improvements over time! Only one had ADSL 2+, with another saying they were still waiting after 12 months for this faster service. Telstra's network technology such as RIM's and Pair Gains systems were the most cited reasons for those unable to get broadband. The average number of broadband users in households with a broadband connection was 2 people. Reasons for accessing broadband ranked in the following order:
The survey so far points to ongoing dissatisfaction with broadband services in Gungahlin and highlights the economic importance of ensuring affordable, higher bandwidth services are made available. Contact: Meg Martin 6277 3334
8 June 2007Outcomes of the ‘Shine a Spotlight on Petrol Prices’ CampaignThis week Senator Kate Lundy has been asking ACT residents to call in with their local petrol prices to shine a spotlight on petrol prices in the lead up to the long weekend. Wednesday 6 June was the cheapest day to purchase petrol this week in the ACT costing on average 137.5 cents per litre, with prices creeping up 2-3 cents per litre on Thursday (139.6) and Friday (139.3). “It is disappointing that petrol prices in the ACT have remained high following the 12c per litre jump late last week”, Senator Lundy said today. As the NRMA stated, it is remarkable that petrol prices have remained so high given that the price of oil internationally has been dropping. " I think the ‘shine a spotlight’ campaign and close public scrutiny by local residents and local media has helped avoid another sharp price increase in the lead up to the long weekend.” “Calls for greater scrutiny by peak bodies like the NRMA, national media coverage and comments made by the ACCC have also helped to avoid another price hike in the ACT this week.” “I call on John Howard to do two things to demonstrate his leadership on this issue. Firstly, he needs to get the Treasurer to direct the ACCC to formally monitor petrol prices.” “The Federal Government then needs to introduce legislation into the Parliament to amend the Trade Practices Act and give the ACCC the power to formally monitor petrol prices as it sees fit rather than at the whim of the Treasurer of the day”, Senator Lundy concluded. For more information, see:
Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295
7 June 2007NCA Powers Well Beyond ReasonableOnce again the NCA is using its power under the national Capital Plan to thwart the efforts of the elected ACT Labor Government to improve the lives of Canberrans, in this case the residents of the Long Stay Caravan Park in Narrabundah. Reports this morning of the NCA delaying the land swap deal negotiated between the ACT Chief Minister and the owner of the caravan park demonstrate the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the National Capital Plan and how it impacts on the Territory Plan and it’s administration by the ACT Government. In 2004, the Joint Standing Committee of the National Capital and External Territories made the following bipartisan recommendations to the Howard Government to rectify the growing disquiet, and in some cases, serious concern, among residents and stakeholders such as the ACT Government and local community groups, about the role and operations of the National Capital Authority. Recommendation 6 - That, in collaboration with the Territory Government, the Federal Government initiate an independent and comprehensive review of the National Capital Plan on the basis of the implementation of the recommendations of this report and the need for a more integrated approach by both planning authorities. Recommendation 7 - That Section 10 (2b) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (Cth) be amended to remove planning of arterial road systems from the National Capital Plan and that the responsibility for the planning of arterial roads be transferred to the Territory Government. Recommendation 8 - That the National Capital Plan be amended so that Designated Area status is uplifted from all Territory Land with the exception of the Deakin/Forrest residential area, the Inner Hills and the main avenues and approach routes; and that in assuming planning responsibility for the areas to be uplifted, the Territory Government uphold the principles articulated in the National Capital Plan. Recommendation 9 - That the National Capital Plan be amended to incorporate a set of agreed planning principles for areas of Territory Land subject to special requirements, and that:
These recommendations are a reasonable starting point for some much needed changes to the National Capital Plan to remove duplication leading to unwarranted and unnecessary interference in ACT planning matters. It is timely to raise the issues of reform to the NCA as the problems they are causing are compounding over time. The emergence this week of the NCA’s inexplicable intervention in the Epicentre site remains to be explained by the NCA. I have asked for NCA for a copy of the Report in question and an explanation of its status. They have not yet replied, with a senior NCA representative having referred my request to their “Governance Officer”. Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295
4 June 2007 - Media ReleaseShine a Spotlight on ACT Petrol PricesToday Senator Lundy called on ACT residents to help monitor local petrol prices in the lead up to the Queens Birthday long weekend. “The Canberra community is fed up with huge fluctuations in the price of petrol, there has definitely been a growing level of frustration as petrol prices continue to go through the roof”, Senator Lundy said. “One thing the Howard Government could do is give the ACCC more power to conduct formal price monitoring. This would enable the ACCC to use compulsory information acquisition powers to obtain documents from any participant in the petrol supply chain.” “The Government has failed to monitor petrol prices, that’s why I am today calling on Canberrans to help monitor the price of petrol in the ACT by calling my office with the price of petrol at their local service station.” “If we shine a spotlight on fluctuations in petrol prices locally, we can help motorists find the lowest prices and put competitive pressure on providers to keep prices reasonable.” concluded. Labor’s policy supports giving the ACCC greater powers to monitor petrol prices under the Trade Practices Act. What can you do to help shine a spotlight in petrol prices?
Contact: Rachel Allen 6230 0411 or 0418 488 295 |
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