21 April 2004 - Media Release

Australian Dance unsustainable under Howard

The Howard Government has neglected the small to medium dance sector in Australia forcing it to fight for its future. This situation has led an extraordinary group of Australian Culture and Dance luminaries to request an injection of funds to 'prevent further haemorrhage by this sector'.

The group of over forty have requested additional recurrent funding of $5m to the Dance Board of the Australia Council in the forthcoming budget. This includes representatives from the Australian Ballet through to small to medium companies and independent artists such as Expressions Dance Company, Leigh Warren and Dancers, Tas Dance, and independent artists such as Kate Champion and Meryl Tankard.

In an open letter to Senator Rod Kemp, high profile Company and Festival Directors have all requested a Nugent style response to the Australia Council’s Resourcing dance: an analysis of the subsidised Australian dance sector. Prominent signatories include David McAllister (Australian Ballet) Garry Stewart (Australian Dance Theatre), Gideon Obarzanek (Chunky Move), Graeme Murphy (Sydney Dance Company), and Robyn Archer AO and Jonathan Mills.

I commend the five Major Performing Dance Companies for their support for this cause. Unlike the Howard Government they clearly understand how excellence is achieved: it requires investment in the grassroots.

In particular, it is the community-based dance organisations that are suffering in a pattern of under-funding that is now typical of the Howard Government. The seriousness of the situation is illustrated by the unity across all aspects of the Dance community - large and small.

The Report identified these disturbing trends in Australian Dance which will undermine this world class, dynamic sector.

It is disgraceful that the Howard Government is happy to bask in the limelight of Australia's national and international successes in dance without providing the support needed to sustain such success.

I call on the Howard Government to respond to the call by these signatories and make the necessary investment in the grass roots development of Dance in Australia in the forthcoming budget.

Contact: Adina Cirson - (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

5 April 2004 - Media Release

Howard must appoint new IT and & Arts Minister

Prime Minister John Howard must appoint a new Communications Minister– which includes the portfolio’s of Information Technology and Arts, following today’s announcement that Daryl Williams will not be contesting the next election. Daryl Williams has now confirmed himself as caretaker Minister in a portfolio that demands commitment and dedication.

Daryl Williams has been in the job for seven months and has done virtually nothing. His record speaks for itself. In the IT portfolio;

In fact the only thing he has done in the IT portfolio was the broadband policy announcement which was nothing more than a series of glib platitudes with virtually no new policy.

In the Arts – the Minister has leaves the Arts portfolio in a state of disarray. Daryl Williams leaves at a time when in the arts sector;

These are challenges which demand a Minister committed to outcomes beyond the next election.

If John Howard does not remove Williams from this portfolio he will be confirming the arrogance of a tired Government that has run out of ideas.

Contact: Adina Cirson - (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

4 April 2004 - Media Release

ABC and the Arts – history unravelling

It appears that there has been a significant policy shift at the ABC which has resulted in a serious decline in its Arts coverage and has placed the ABC in unknown territory, traditionally being at the leading edge of cultural programming and creative opportunity.

Labor is once again disappointed about a series of programming decisions taken by the ABC, with the release today of a report indicating a significant shift away from cultural programming, with a number of Arts programs across radio, television and on-line being cut.

A report commissioned by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has found that coverage of the Arts in cultural programming on the ABC across Radio, Television and Online has been steadily diminishing since 1992, and has called for a review into the ABC’s entire arts output and to urgently develop a clear arts policy.

Professor Liz Jacka, Professor of Communications Studies, UTS has found that;

Of most concern are decisions including the axing Triple J’s only Arts program, Artery, the abolition of stereo drama on Classic FM and the closure of ABC On-line’s The Space; the downgrading of Australian Arts content in TV and to putting an end to digital Fly TV.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand why such decisions are being taken, particularly when the ABC has such a proud history of being at the leading edge of cultural development and creation of new opportunities for emerging artists and its reach of younger audiences.

However what must not be forgotten is the immense pressure placed upon the ABC by The Howard Government and this report serves as yet another reminder of just how important it is that the integrity of the ABC is restored and is once again known to be a fearless independent quality national broadcaster.

For further information please contact: Adina Cirson - 0418 488 295

2 April 2004 - Media Release

Implementation of so-called “broadband strategy” full of holes

During a public hearing into broadband competition by a Senate Committee this week, officials from the soon-to-be defunct NOIE were unable to demonstrate that the Howard Government’s so-called National Broadband Strategy had an effective probity plan to ensure the range of grants could not be used in an anti-competitive way.

For example, the eligibility criteria for the Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund (CCIF) can be interpreted as contradictory given that the Government seeks to both improve competition as well as ensuring that infrastructure is not duplicated.

This demonstrates the Howard Government refuses to recognise that Telstra's continued domination of rural and regional services and poor quality infrastructure has inhibited broadband services.

There is also a great deal of confusion about the overlap in purpose between the CCIF and Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS). The Senate committee has received complaints about the eligibility criteria in geographic terms of both schemes at it seems the Howard Government is still trying to fix problems.

In an extraordinary admission, the department said they sought and valued the opinion of the HiBIS grant application assessors as to the merit and eligibility of grant applications submitted to the CCIF program.

In other words, the eligibility and assessment process is as clear as mud. Applicants would be justifiably angry if unbeknown to them, confidential applications are being circulated widely.

This raises additional probity concerns which further proves Howard Government's so-called National Broadband Strategy is full of holes.

For further information please contact: Adina Cirson - 0418 488 295

2 April 2004 - Media Release

McDonald’s food labelling a first step – but more needs to be done

McDonald’s Australia announcement that it will provide nutritional labelling on most of its food products is a welcome step in enhancing consumer information and addressing the rise of obesity in Australia – but more needs to be done.

Australia’s obesity epidemic needs to be addressed through a combination of increased physical activity and better diet. Providing nutritional information on fast foods is one important way to help consumers assess the contents of their meals and understand what it is they are eating.

McDonald’s Australia appear to be the first fast food company to provide comprehensive product labelling and other restaurant chains are encouraged to follow McDonald’s example.

Ideally, all take away food outlets should, where possible, provide comprehensive nutritional information to consumers.

Labor also welcomes McDonald’s move to introduce a liquid style canola cooking oil blend that is substantially lower in saturated and trans fatty acids.

Obesity is a major health crisis in Australia and there is no doubt that the types of foods Australians eat, and the decline in participating in sport and recreation, is exacerbating the problem.

Parents are rightly concerned about the foods they and their children eat. By providing enhanced consumer information and education through food labelling, families can make better choices about their diets.

For further information please contact:  Alan Griffin on 0419 353 476  Kate Roffey (Kate Lundy’s office) 0411 969 364

1 April 2004 - Joint Media Release

Robert McClelland MP, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security and Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for IT

Howard Government Slack on E-security

A bipartisan parliamentary report has outlined the Howard Government’s slack approach to e-security.

This proves the hypocrisy of the Howard Government on security matters: when it comes to actually doing the basic work, like protecting the integrity of Commonwealth information, they have failed.

The nine recommendations focus on tangible and practical improvements to the diligence, accuracy, organisation, preparation, implementation and analysis of e-security strategies; in other words, all aspects of e-security.

NOIE has had coordination responsibility for the Howard Government’s so-called e-security strategy across the Commonwealth since the 02/03 budget and have clearly failed.

Key weaknesses include:

There has been lip service, but no real action on e-security by the Howard Government.

This is further evidence of the vast distance between the Howard Government’s rhetoric and action on the vital issue of e-security.

Attached: Link to Report and Senator Lundy's tabling speech.

For further information please contact: Adina Cirson - 0418 488 295