28 February 2007 - Media Release

Labor puts health promotion on the Federal agenda

Shadow Minister for Health Promotion, Kate Lundy today outlined a Rudd Labor Government’s commitment to a comprehensive health agenda that is about helping people live healthy, active lives as well as treating them when they are sick.

In her speech Senator Lundy noted the traditional Australian self image as a nation of sports loving, fit and friendly characters and lamented the fact that Australians are now the second most obese population in the world.

The growth in the incidence of chronic disease may well mean that this generation of children will be the first to have a lower average life expectancy than that of their parents.

Labor recognises that the rising costs of acute health care are unsustainable for all levels of Government.

The Productivity Commission Report released this morning, the Potential Benefits of the National Reform Agenda was clear in indicating the importance of health promotion when suggesting that the enhancement of workforce participation and productivity through health promotion and disease prevention could potentially result in increases in GDP of around 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively, after 25 or more years.

Labor will use evidence based research to guide our initiatives and will make the most of the research effort that has been ignored by the Howard Government. We are particularly mindful of the social determinants of health and will pay due attention to ensuring equitable access to health services whatever their nature, Senator Lundy told the Senate.

A Rudd Labor Government will work to restore the balance in the health system by increasing physical activity and improving the focus on nutrition to help all Australians to lead healthy and active lives.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 6277 3334 or 0417 148 059

20 February 2007 - Media Release

Congratulations Canberra Capitals

Congratulations to the Canberra Capitals on winning the 2006/2007 WNBL championship on Saturday at Penrith Sports Stadium.

The Canberra Capitals have now won five WNBL championships following their win on the weekend. They are to be congratulated on yet another excellent season and be recognised as one of Canberra’s great sporting teams.

Congratulations should also go to the team captain, Kellie Abrams, and Tracey Beatty who was named the grand final’s most valuable player.

The win was a remarkable achievement for coach Carrie Graf, who has now won five WNBL titles and was named Coach of the Year.

Carrie Graf was also awarded the keys to the city by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope today.

The Canberra Capitals are the most successful sports team participating in a national competition Canberra has ever seen. This achievement is something that the Canberra community is very proud of.

Women’s sport generally does it tough, with much less media coverage and lower sponsorship than men’s sport. The Capitals’ success and their strong relationship with local sponsor TransACT demonstrate that these inequities should be a thing of the past.

Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295 or 02 6230 0411

7 February 2007 - Media Release

Howard Government discriminates against same-sex couples, again!

Senator Lundy has today called on John Howard and Philip Ruddock to put aside their own prejudices and allow the ACT Legislative Assembly to exercise it’s right to legislate for civil partnerships.

The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, yesterday said that he would recommend that the Governor-General disallow the ACT Civil Partnerships Bill, even though it hasn’t even been debated in the ACT Legislative Assembly yet.

“I believe that many ACT residents will be very offended by the Howard Government’s decision to disallow this important bill. Not only does the Government’s decision discriminate against same-sex couples, but is also denies the ACT Government’s right to legislate with respect to the ACT”, Senator Lundy said.

“This is a blatant political stunt by a Government that is lagging behind in the polls”.

“The Howard Government is relying on its extreme, conservative ideology and causing division in the community to win votes at the expense of the rights of same-sex couples to have the same rights and privileges as all other couples”.

“I call on Philip Ruddock and the Howard Government to reconsider disallowing this bill and let the ACT Government legislate for same-sex couples as they are entitled to do under the ACT Self-Government Act”, Senator Lundy concluded.


Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295 or 6230 0411

5 February 2007 - Media Release

Childhood obesity link to cancer can't be ignored

Leading cancer advocates worldwide, including the Cancer Council of Australia, have reinforced the message that more needs to be done to reduce the levels of childhood weight problems and obesity in Australia.

Research shows that 40 percent of the 88,000 cancers diagnosed each year in Australia can be prevented through healthier lifestyles established early in life. Obesity is associated with an increased risk in cancer of the colon, breast (post-menopause), endometrium, kidney and oesophagus.

With the incidence of childhood obesity growing, these kids are more likely to be tomorrow's cancer victims. When is the Government going to see that we need to get our kids more active and eating more nutritious food?

Labor is committed to doing everything possible to give kids the healthy start they deserve. Last week, Labor announced plans to develop a Primary Health in Primary Schools Checklist for parents.

Primary school is the perfect time to take stock of important developments in a child’s life, and to strongly promote good nutrition and exercise as part of a healthy environment for learning.

The Government only funded the Active After School Communities Program after political pressure forced them to act, however the program continues to see up to 28,000 keen Australian children sitting on the sideline.

The Prime Minister cannot continue to ignore the statistics – Australian school children deserve a greater focus on healthy lifestyle initiatives instead of Government rhetoric that the parents are to blame.

Labor has recognised the importance of Health Promotion by creating a dedicated position in the Labor Shadow Ministry, and will continue to hold the Government to account for their neglect of initiatives that could improve the long term health of all Australians.

*Latest statistics show that 25% of Australian school children are overweight or obese. This figure has increased from 11% in 1985.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 02 6277 3334 (Lundy)
or Sean Kelly 02 6277 2039 or 0417 108 362 (Roxon)

3 February 2007 - Media Release

ACT Chamber of Commerce must apologise to mistreated workers

Senator Lundy has today called for the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry to apologise for the comments it made last year dismissing allegations that were made by skilled migrant workers against four Canberra restaurants.

Yesterday the Federal Magistrates Court handed down $50,000 in penalties, plus $5,400 in unpaid wages including interest, to The Italian Eatery Pty Ltd, trading as Zeffirelli Pizza Restaurant. 

Late last month the Federal Magistrates Court fined Harrington Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Pangaea Bar and Restaurant, $64,000 for breaching the Liquor and Allied Industries Catering, Café, Restaurant (ACT) Award 1998 and Workplace Relations Act 1996.

Now that the Federal Magistrates Court has found that Zeffirellis and Pangaea Bar and Restaurant failed to comply with their legal obligations to their employees, when is the ACT Chamber of Commerce going to acknowledge the validity of these workers claims?

The ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Chris Peters enthusiastically defended restaurants involved in now proven breaches.

When the allegations were first made in February 2006, Mr. Peters told the Canberra Times in relation to the allegations made against Zeffirellis:

"This is devastating for the restaurant. A successful restaurant in Canberra that's always done the right thing by its staff and it has been shown to be doing the right thing now…has been named in Parliament and subject to ridicule in the community"

The ACT Chamber of Commerce should acknowledge they were wrong to dismiss the seriousness of the workers claims.  The Chamber and Mr. Peters ought to understand employment law as it is his job to advise his member businesses.

The Chamber also has a responsibility to protect businesses paying the correct rates from unfair competition from businesses undercutting on wages.

"I welcome the Federal Magistrates Courts decisions to order repayment of wages, with interest, owing to these vulnerable migrant workers", Senator Lundy said.

"When employers underpay workers, they risk bringing the entire hospitality industry into disrepute. Hopefully this decision will make any other employers who are ripping their employees off take their obligations seriously," Senator Lundy commented.

"I call on the ACT Chamber of Commerce to set the record straight and apologise to the workers affected for failing to take their claims seriously", Senator Lundy concluded.

Contact:  Rachel Allen 0418 488 295

2 February 2007 - Media Release

Cost of Canberra’s Child-care Contradicts Treasury Report

Child-care in Canberra must become more accessible and affordable, despite a Treasury report released today claiming that child-care across Australia is both affordable and accessible.

It was revealed yesterday that the ACT was ranked among the most expensive places in Australia for child-care. The average cost for full-time long day care in Canberra is $233, that is $32 more expensive than the national average.

“If the Howard Government thinks paying around a third of your wage in child-care costs is affordable, then they are out-of-touch with ordinary working families”, Senator Lundy said.

It has also been reported that there are both areas of over-supply and shortages in the ACT. There are particular shortages in places for children under 18 months, and also in areas of high demand. This means that some parents in the ACT are having trouble accessing appropriate and convenient child-care. 

“I have had many parents tell me how difficult it is to find child-care in Canberra now. If the Howard Government thinks today’s Treasury report solves Australia’s child-care crisis, then they are very, very wrong.”

“The rising cost of childcare leads to parents, particularly mothers, having to leave the workforce because they just can’t afford child-care. This is bad news for parents that want to work and bad news for Australia’s economic prosperity.”

A Labor government will build 260 new child-care centres around Australia in areas of need. This will improve accessibility and help bring the cost of child care down.

Labor will also put an extra $450 million into childcare, pre-school and early learning to help all four-year olds access quality early childhood education.

While the Howard government is sitting back hoping the child-care crisis will go away, Labor has a plan to improve the accessibility and affordability of child-care.

Contact:  Rachel Allen -  0418 488 295

1 February 2007 - Media Release

Local Labor Representatives Call on US Congress to Bring David Hicks Home

Today we have signed a letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US Congress, calling on the United States Congress to help bring David Hicks home immediately.

David Hicks, an Australian citizen, has been held at Guantanamo Bay for over five years now.  That’s five years with no charges laid and no chance of his release in sight.

It is clear that the Howard Government has abandoned one of its own citizens to a military commission process that no other Western country considers acceptable.

There is no reason, other than a lack of political will and the stubbornness of the Howard Government, for David Hicks not to be returned to Australia immediately.

We have called on the Government repeatedly to reconsider its position, embrace the rule of law and to end the injustice for an Australian citizen overseas. But our concerns, and the concerns that have been expressed by the Australian public, have fallen on deaf ears

By signing this letter we are joining many other Federal Parliamentarians frustrated by the lack of action by the Howard Government to bring David Hicks home.

As outlined in the letter, we are not satisfied that the recently announced rules for Guantanamo Bay detainee trials will afford David Hicks a fair hearing, consistent with international legal standards and Australian law. 

We are also concerned about reports by Australian psychiatrists that David Hicks is exhibiting signs of mental illness. This is not surprising given that he has reportedly spent most of the past five years in solitary confinement.

We condemn the Government for failing to take reports of David Hicks' deteriorating mental health seriously, with Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock saying today "people respond to detention in different ways. I don't hear most people detained in Australian are found to be unfit to plead simply because they've been detained". This shows the Governments complete ignorance about the conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

We hope that the United States Congress considers our letter, and the letters sent by other members of the Australian Parliament, and will take steps to bring about the return of David Hicks to Australia.

We are committed to pursuing this matter vigorously and continuing to pressure the Government into bringing David Hicks home now.

The letter that was signed is attached

Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295 (Lundy) Ash Musgrove - 0419 020 419 (Ellis) Margaret Watt - 0438 271 749  (McMullan)