The full announcements are available at:

• Children with a disability given a better start
• More supported accommodation for people with disability

Click here to view the embedded video.

TRANSCRIPT:

Senator Lundy:

I’m really pleased to be here today as part of Labor’s announcement for funding for support and accomodation for people with disabilities. It’s a really important announcement and it means a lot for a particular initiative here in Canberra. The Community Living Project has been lobbying, campaigning, working really really hard to try to find a way to get government support for a living option for people with disabilities.

Well I’m really proud to be able to announce today our new policy to fund supported accommodation is potentially the answer for the Community Living Project, and other initiatves like it.

Dr Leigh:

Well we’re here today to talk about a new announcement that Prime Minister Gillard has announced today along with Bill Shorten. This is going to involve two really important initiaves. One is new resources for early intervention for children with particular impairments. These include hearing impairments, sight impairments, Fragile X and Down Syndrome.

The announcement provides up to $12,000 for children with one of these impairments for very early intervention before the ages of about 6 years old. The other announcement today is a capital works announcement for supportive accommodation. This is supporting some of the most valuable work that is done by community groups in Canberra and throughout Australia.

Senator Lundy:

The two aspects to this policy: supporting early intervention for children with a disability and also providing capital support for an independent and supported accommodation for people with disabilities represents a real milestone for Federal Government funding and support for people with disabilities and their carers.

Myself, Andrew Leigh and Gai Brodtmann are all really proud of this policy and are pleased to be here today with representatives of the Community Living Project which is a very good example of a community organisation taking the initiative and wanting to provide accommodation and we believe that this new fund, this $60 million dollars is the kind of fund that they will be able to apply to to support their vision and endeavours to provide better accommodation choices for people with disabilities and their parents and carers.

Esther Woodbury:

The Community Living Project is a group fo parents in Canberra, there’s 250 families who are looking for support and accommodation options, meaningful things to do everyday and medical and dental health care for the child, their children. We’ve come together because of the lack of services in the ACT, and really the lack of services throughout Australia. We met with Bill Shorten and many more politicians. We met with Bill Shorten a number of times and he has been very enthusiastic about our project and talking to us about what he thinks that we need.

I believe that policy that he announced today, that he is really listening to us and what was said, and put together a lot about what we asked for into the policy and it’s going to be a real bonus for us to be able to do things in the future.

Alison McGregor:

I think one of the important parts of the Community Living Project is about the fact that it is a grassroots organisation. That it is looking to the needs of the families who are caring for a loved one with a diasbility and that it is trying to make sure that they feel empowered to go and grab the opportunities that are available to them. The Community Living Project is more than just looking at support and accommodation, it really is looking at the whole person and what they will need to live a good life. So part of what we’re doing is looking at quality life choices for people with a disability not just in the ACt, though our focus is here, but for all people with a disability across Australia.

Senator Kate Lundy
Labor Senator for the ACT
Gai Brodtmann
Labor Candidate for Canberra

Senator for the ACT, Kate Lundy, and Labor Candidate for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann, today attended the official openings of two school projects in the ACT as part of the Australian Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER).

Senator Lundy and Ms Brodtmann congratulated Woden and Wanniassa schools on their new and upgraded facilities, and spoke of the benefit to both the school and local community.

“It has been fantastic to see local principals, parents and tradespeople working together to deliver this important project,” Ms Brodtmann said.

“None of this important funding would have flowed to these schools if it was up to the Coalition,” Senator Lundy said.

The Woden School received more than $1 million in Commonwealth funding for the construction of a shade structure and new classrooms.

The Wanniassa School received $2.2 million in Commonwealth funding for a refurbished hospitality teaching area and school facilities and construction of a new covered learning area.

Building the Education Revolution is a key element of the Federal Labor Government’s $42 billion Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan to support jobs, stimulate local economies and invest in important infrastructure for the long-term.

The National School Pride program has delivered more than $19 million funding to 126 ACT schools for minor infrastructure and refurbishment.

The Primary Schools for the 21st Century program has delivered more than $223 million funding to 104 ACT schools for major new infrastructure.

Media Contact:

Annika Hutchins (Lundy) 0407 458 882
Gai Brodtmann 0409 826 932

CANBERRA
30 JULY 2010

COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 | Fax: (02) 9264 2213 | www.alp.org.au

AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.

SENATOR FOR THE ACT

LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FRASER

NEW FACILITIES OPEN AT GIRALANG PRIMARY SCHOOL

Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy and Labor Candidate for Fraser Andrew Leigh today attended the official opening of the refurbished multipurpose hall at Giralang Primary School built as part of the Australian Government’s Building the Education Revolution.

Giralang Primary School received $75,000 under the National School Pride (NSP) element for an upgraded school front entry and $850,000 under the Primary Schools for the 21^st Century (P21) element of BER for refurbishment of a multipurpose hall and main entry.

Building the Education Revolution is a key element of the Federal Labor Government’s $42 billion Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan to support jobs, stimulate local economies and invest in important infrastructure for the long-term.

Senator Lundy and Andrew Leigh congratulated Giralang Primary school on their new and upgraded facilities and spoke of the benefit to both the school and local community.

‘It has been fantastic to see local principals, parents and tradespeople working together to deliver this important project,’ Senator Lundy said.

“None of this important funding would have flowed to Giralang Primary School if it was up to the Liberal-National Coalition,” Andrew Leigh said.

The National School Pride (NSP) element has delivered  more than $19 million funding to 126 ACT schools for minor infrastructure and refurbishment.

The Primary Schools for the 21^st Century (P21) element has delivered approximately $221 million funding to 126 ACT schools for major new infrastructure.

Further information about this project and all schools funded is available at www.buildingtheeducationrevolution.gov.au or at: www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au

COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 | Fax: (02) 9264 2213 | www.alp.org.au

AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.

• Duffy Primary School received $2.125 million in commonwealth funding for the construction of a shade structure and refurbishment of library and student facilities,
• Stromlo High School received $450,000 in Commonwealth funding for the construction of shade structure and the construction of a covered outdoor learning area and
• Malkara School received $925,000 in Commonwealth funding for refurbishment for extension and refurbishment of classrooms.

BER is a key element of the Federal Labor Government’s $42 billion Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan to support jobs, stimulate local economies and invest in important infrastructure for the long-term.

Senator Lundy congratulated all three schools on their new and upgraded facilities and spoke of the benefit to both the school and local community.

‘It has been fantastic to see local principals, parents and tradespeople working together to deliver these important projects,’ Senator Lundy said.

The National School Pride (NSP) element has delivered $19.355 million funding to 126 ACT schools for minor infrastructure and refurbishment.

The Primary Schools for the 21^st Century (P21) element has delivered $221.55 million funding to 126 ACT schools for major new infrastructure.

Further information about this project and all schools funded is available at www.buildingtheeducationrevolution.gov.au or at: www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au

Media Contact: Annika Hutchins (Lundy) 0407 458 882

Gungahlin is one of the first 19 mainland rollouts of the NBN, with 3000 premises to be initially connected to the 100Mbps fibre network beginning in March 2011. The NBN will deliver a 100Mbps future-proof fibre to the premises connection to over 90% of Australians, with the remaining households receiving 12Mbps wireless services, particularly  for remote areas (see my NBN in Gungahlin Fact Sheet). The long suffering residents of Gungahlin have had to cope with some of the worst Internet services in the country.

The Liberals policy to dump the NBN, without an alternate plan, and with a long legacy of failure in addressing the issue of delivering high speed and quality networks or even a competitive telecommunications industry presents a real issue for all Australians, as well as the 25,000 jobs that will be supported every year through the NBN rollout.

Background
Last week Senator Humphries stated in a media release that he welcomed the announcement of early NBN deployment to Gungahlin. But this morning the Senator was once again caught out playing both sides of the fence as he admitted on ABC Canberra Radio that a Liberal government would scrap the NBN and don’t have an alternative plan. Below is a transcript of some of the comments from Senator Humphries this morning.

“Well Greg, as you may know, I’ve been quite vocal in suggesting there should be some action on improving the broadband upgrade of Gungahlin. The Liberal Party obviously believes in Australia getting high quality rollout of broadband. It doesn’t believe in doing that through the NBN. And the point it that we think that the NBN is an extremely dangerous venture in banking on a particular kind of technology in a way that puts a huge risk to the Australian community in the future as we invest $43b over several more years which may be the case to be a very large white elephant.

“We had a plan before 2007 to deliver high speed broadband through a combination of government intervention and encouragement of the private sector to deliver that. I’m confident that would have provided Gungahlin with those kinds of services in due course. Now, we need to work out how we deliver these kinds of services if we get in government in the wake of NBN being abolished.”

Senator Gary Humphries, 21st July 2010, ABC Canberra Radio (around 0915)

Combined media release by:

• Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT
• Andrew Leigh, Labor Candidate for Fraser
• David Mathews, Labor Candidate for the Second Senate position in the ACT

Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy said Trade Cadets would be the electricians, carpenters and tradies of tomorrow.

The Cadetships will be open to students from Year 9 to 12 and will help to ensure they have the skills and experience to be job-ready and start a trade.

“I know families want their children to have the best education and training,” Candidate for Canberra Gai Brodtmann said.

“That’s why we’re offering a new pathway to trades and technical careers.

“While we’re rolling out Trade Training Centres and the Trade Cadets programs, Tony Abbott wants to scrap them,” Candidate for Fraser Andrew Leigh said.

“Under Tony Abbott, 1.2 million Australian students would miss out on the opportunity to learn a trade at over 1,800 high schools.

“I call on Senator Gary Humphries and the ACT Liberal Candidates to come clean about whether they support Tony Abbott’s plan to axe trades funding promised to our local high schools, and if they support the National Trade Cadetship,” Senator Lundy said.

Federal Labor will provide $3.1 million over two years to establish the Cadetships, which will be delivered as part of the National Curriculum.

This funding will be fully offset over the forward estimates, consistent with the Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to return the budget to surplus in three years.

The Liberals will abolish community cabinets, the petrol commissioner and abandon Australia’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. Mr Abbott also promised to cut the $300 global carbon storage institute.

Mr Abbott argued these cuts are mainly in bureaucracy; however they will affect job security for public servants and is yet another cut for Canberra demonstrating that a Liberal Government can not be trusted with public service jobs.

Background

So far the Liberals have planned for Canberra-

• Cut Trade Training Centre (1 June 2010)
• Cut 12,000 public service numbers (13 May 2010)
• a revival to key aspects of Howard-era WorkChoices (13 May 2010)
• Cut spending by $10 billion (27 April 2010)
• Cut the National Broadband Network (27 April 2010)
• Cut the Building Education Revolution (10 April 2010)
• Cut 5,000 public services jobs in health and education (1 April 2010)

Media Contacts: Annika Hutchins (Lundy) 0407 458 882, Gai Brodtmann 0409 826 932, Andrew Leigh 0431 706 600, David Mathews 0412 47 9 063.

The Australian Government provided $231,593 towards the project to refurbish rooms at the Tuggeranong Community Centre to make it suitable for use as a flexible training centre including a self study area and an ungraded meeting room for use by larger learning groups.

The project will offer students access to industry-standard equipment and facilities and students who complete training here will enter the workforce with invaluable experience.

The Gillard Government is committed to investing in infrastructure that improves vocational education and training to ensure Australia has the skills base we need for the future growth of our economy.

The $231,593 grant for the NuSkills Learning and Development Centre was provided under the Australian Government’s Investing in Community Education and Training (ICET) element of the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and training (TLCF (VET)) which funds the purchase, construction, fit-out or refurbishment of facilities for vocational education and training.

The Government’s investment in vocational education includes $2.5 billion to establish Trades Training Centres in schools across Australia, and more than $2 billion over five years for 711 000 new training places under the Productivity Places Program.

“Since 2007, the Labor Government has made unprecedented investment in Canberra,” said Senator Lundy.

“Canberrans now enjoy better schools, hospitals, health services and roads, a growing local economy, a stable public service and thriving businesses,” said Ms Brodtmann.

“A Gillard Government will move Australia and Canberra forward, continue to deliver a strong economy and bring the budget to surplus by 2013,” said Mr Leigh.

“By voting Labor, Canberrans will continue to build a future that will strengthen our community and economy and keep jobs safe,” they said.

“For weeks we’ve been out talking with Canberrans about the Labor Government’s achievements.”

“We look forward to continuing to meet with Canberrans over the course of this federal election campaign to discuss the Labor Government’s significant support for our town.

Canberrans are left with a stark choice as they go to the polling booth in the upcoming election given we already know the devastation the Liberals have planned for our community.

Canberrans have good memories and recall how the Howard Government cut 30,000 jobs in 96/97 after saying they would only cut 2,500 jobs by ‘natural attrition’ before the 1996 election. As a result the ACT economy went into a recession with house values sinking up to 30 percent in some areas.

Under Labor the overall numbers of the public service will continue to remain stable.

The Liberals have planned for Canberra-
• Cut Trade Training Centre (1 June 2010)
• Cut 12,000 public service numbers (13 May 2010)
• a revival to key aspects of Howard-era WorkChoices (13 May 2010)
• Cut spending by $10 billion (27 April 2010)
• Cut the National Broadband Network (27 April 2010)
• Cut the Building Education Revolution (10 April 2010)
• Cut 5,000 public services jobs in health and education (1 April 2010)

This is the stark choice Canberrans will make at the next election.

“We encourage young Canberrans and first time voters to make sure they are enrolled to vote by 8.00 pm on Monday 19 July.

“We also encourage Canberrans to check their enrolment and address details are up to date by Wednesday 21 July,” they said.

Combined media release of:

• Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT
• Gai Brodtmann, Labor Candidate for Canberra
• Andrew Leigh, Labor Candidate for Fraser
• David Mathews, Labor Second Senate Candidate for the ACT

Media contacts:

• Annika Hutchins (Lundy), 0407 458 882
• Gai Brodtmann, 0412 926 348
• Andrew Leigh, 0431 706 600
• David Mathews, 0412 479 063

The Australian Government is investing about $25 million to continue supporting young carers across Australia.

Senator for the ACT, Kate Lundy and Labor Candidate for Fraser, Dr Andrew Leigh welcomed news that the Young Carers Program would continue in Belconnen.

“Young carers in Belconnen will continue to have access to respite and carer support services to help them stay in school through the ACT Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre,” Dr Leigh said.

“Many young carers spend long hours caring for loved ones, in some cases more than 40 hours a week, while trying to keep up with schoolwork and assignments.

“Trying to juggle demanding caring responsibilities with the daily routine of school, let alone staying in touch with their friends, is a daily challenge.”

The Young Carers Program provides access to respite services to help school aged young carers take time off to study, spend time with friends and enjoy regular activities like playing team sport.

The program also provides support activities to help reduce stress on young carers, including educational, social and recreational activities such as tutoring, cooking and budgeting lessons and fun school holiday activities.

“The Gillard Government understands that caring for a loved one is a huge responsibility for children and young people and is committed to providing a range of support to help them achieve their personal goals,” Senator Lundy said.

To get in touch with a service provider in the local area, call the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre on 1800 052 222.

Media contact:

Andrew Leigh 0431 706 600

Annika Hutchins (Lundy) 0407 458 882