28 February 2001 - Media Release

Congratulations to AIS stars

The Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, today congratulated Simon Fairweather and Siobhan Paton for their prestigious achievements in winning the 2000 AIS Athlete and AIS Paralympian of the Year Award.

Simon Fairweather received the AIS Athlete of the Year award following his outstanding success at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where he became the first Australian to take a Gold medal in archery.

Siobhan Paton received the AIS Paralympian of the Year award for her magnificent achievements at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

“These awards are recognition both of the terrific personal efforts by Simon and Siobhan and the excellent sporting programs designed and implemented by the Australian Institute of Sport,” Senator Lundy said.

“The fact that two Canberra-based athletes have won these prestigious awards is further evidence of the important role the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport play in making the ACT a world-leader in sporting excellence.

“The challenge that lies ahead is to build on the achievements of the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games, for both elite sport and sports participation at the community level,” Senator Lundy said.

32/01.Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

26 February 2001 - Media Release

Vanstone joins the condescending fray

The Howard Government has once again displayed a condescending, arrogant, and patronising tone towards young Australians.

This time, the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Vanstone, claimed today that young people are being frightened by Labor’s revelation that the Coalition is trying to grab back two per cent of the compensation bonus for pensioners.

In an outrageous and bewildering sledge, Senator Vanstone alleged:

You will not get the vote of younger Australians by frightening their grannies.

Senator Vanstone is drawing more than a long bow here - she’s single-handedly insulting both young and older Australians with one sentence.

Young people know the difference between good and bad policy, Senator Vanstone.

Young people also know when a Government is being mean spirited and unfair.

Instead of trying to guess the aspirations of young people, Senator Vanstone should do something novel, listen to what young people have to say.

And after she’s done that, she should tell the Minister for Youth Affairs, Dr Kemp what they said!

The only thing that young people could possibly be frightened of is another term of the Howard Government and another four years of patronising, condescending rhetoric from a government that is totally out of touch.

31/01.  Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

22 February 2001 - Media Release

Lack of action on water safety unacceptable

The Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, has expressed concern over the Government’s lack of action on water safety in Australia.

During a Senate Estimates hearing yesterday, it was revealed that Sports Minister Jackie Kelly had not yet acted on the recommendations contained in the Australian Water Safety Council’s National Water Safety Plan.

Minister Kelly launched the National Water Safety Plan in July 1998, which contained 21 recommendations to foster cooperation and commitment in the fight against drowning. In January 1999, Minister Kelly held a summit of Australia’s Sport and Recreation Ministers and issued a press release promising to review ‘the significant funding already spent on water safety to ensure it is ‘spent smarter’.

The Senate Estimates Committee heard, in classic Sir Humphry speak, that Minister Kelly’s department had participated in developing the National Water Safety Plan and would conduct a review in due course determine what further action is needed.

“It’s two years down the track and Ms Kelly has done nothing to ensure these critical recommendations on water safety have been put in place,” Senator Lundy said.

“So far, only bureaucratic platitudes and Ministerial press releases is all that has emanated from the Coalition.

“I am gravely concerned that another year has passed without the Minister acting on key recommendations to prevent water related drowning and accidents.

“This is not just policy lazy, it is policy paralysis.

30/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

22 February 2001 - Media Release

Indigenous Sport needs more than a PM’s cricket match

Indigenous Australian’s are still discriminated against in terms of sporting opportunities and sporting infrastructure, and they need more than just a Prime Minister’s cricket match to redress this imbalance, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.

During a senate Estimates hearing last, Senator Lundy criticised Coalition cutbacks to the Australian Sports Commission which saw a four-year appropriation of $1.5 million for Indigenous Sport cease on 31 June 2000. Despite an ATSIC contribution, almost $400,000 per year has been slashed from the Indigenous Sports Program.

“The Prime Minister needs to do more for Indigenous sport than simply host a cricket match between a Prime Minister’s XI and an ATSIC Chairman’s XI on April 5 at Manuka Oval in Canberra,” Senator Lundy said.

“There is an urgent need for sporting infrastructure and expertise in Aboriginal and Islander communities. A 1997 House of Representatives Report found that “nearly every [Indigenous] community has listed as their number one priority sport and recreational activities - before clean water, before 24-hour power, before roads.

“Despite the urgent need to improve Aboriginal and Islander sporting opportunities, the Howard Government has slashed funding for Indigenous sport.

“The Indigenous Mentoring Scheme (IMS), which linked older Indigenous people with up and coming athletes, has also been terminated.

“Where are the training camps, mentoring programs and Indigenous Sport programs for Aboriginal and Islander athletes, Mr Howard?

“Announcing the cricket game between a PM and ATSIC XI, Mr Howard claimed that ‘Indigenous cricket teams have a long and proud tradition on Australian cricket fields’.

“This ignores a pitiful and disgraceful history of discrimination.

“Cricket is an expensive in many respects elitist sport, and Indigenous Australians have historically been denied opportunities and facilities to pursue a cricketing career.

“According to Black Gold, the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, nearly 50% of Aboriginal fast bowlers have been labelled ‘chuckers’ and hounded out of the game.

“I am, however, optimistic that the success of Australian test fast bowler Jason Gillespie will inspire today’s young Aborigines to take up cricket,” Senator Lundy said.

29/01. .Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

10 February 2001 - Media Release

Senator Lundy congratulates the 2001 Heywire Winners

Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, congratulated the 35 winners of the ABC’s Heywire program.

The Heywire program gives regional youth a voice through a nation-wide competition that broadcasts experiences of living in regional Australia throughout the country. The 35 winners from all over Australia are travelling home from Canberra this weekend after attending a week-long program of workshops, networking and personal development.

Topics included issues such as; the feelings associated with losing the family farm, youth suicide, having a parent as the local GP, leaving home to go to boarding school and the quality of life and benefits of living in the bush.

“This program is a rare opportunity for Australia’s rural youth and I congratulate all the young people for sharing their stories with the rest of Australia,” Senator Lundy said.

“It is vital that programs such as these are supported by government and that Australia’s rural youth are acknowledged for the important and significant contribution they make towards the prosperity and culture of our nation,” Senator Lundy concluded.

28/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

10 February 2001 - Media Release

Kemp’s Back flip Welcomed by Lundy

Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, has welcomed Minister Kemp’s back flip on reinstating the environment as a topic group in this year’s National Youth Roundtable. The backflip came after pressure from young people, youth organisations, environmental groups and the Opposition.

A Departmental e-mail omitting the environment from the six proposed 2001 topic groups was posted on the DETYA’s youth.comm e-group on the 12 January and invited comment on the proposed topic groups with a 9 February deadline.

The e-mail was followed by another stating that environmental issues had not been removed from National Youth Roundtable 2001 but instead the environmental concerns of young people would be “incorporated” into other topic groups and not under the “specific banner” of the environment.

Past members of the National Youth Roundtable initiated a petition that was tabled by Senator Lundy on the 8 February- before the 9 February deadline for comment on the proposed topic groups.

“This Minister seems to be developing a reputation for silencing groups that are either too critical or that propose initiatives not in line with Government policy,” Senator Lundy said. 

“The 1999 National Perspectives topic group, that discussed issues such as reconciliation, the republic and reinstating a National Youth peak body, was surprisingly absent from the 2000 program. The young people in the Participation in the Community group however adapted their presentations to cover some of these important areas.

“The fact that the Minister continues to attempt to steer the Roundtable away from issues on which the Government is obviously vulnerable to criticism indicates that he is not honest in his commitment to maintaining the Roundtable as an independent “voice of youth”.

“Our position is supported by many past Roundtable members. The Minister’s recent claims that the Opposition is wrong on this issue just reinforces that he is not only out of touch with the concerns of young Australians but also his own department.

“The Minister’s back flip on the environment topic group is a victory for young Australians for which they have a right to feel proud and I encourage them to make the most of the opportunity,” Senator Lundy said.

A second National Youth Roundtable petition, calling on the Minister to make public the youth policy recommendations given as advice to the Government, will be tabled next parliamentary sitting.

27/01.  Media Contact: Simon Tatz  0418 488 295

8 February 2001 - Media Release

Rattled Richard

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, is obviously rattled by the revelations exposing the Government’s complete bungling of the $5 billion IT Outsourcing Program.

In Senate Question Time today, Senator Alston deliberately misrepresented my position on IT outsourcing in a desperate attempt to salvage his own tarnished reputation as a result of the Government’s outsourcing debacle.

The Minister knows full well that the Labor Party is not opposed to IT outsourcing - what we oppose is the way the Coalition has completely mismanaged their $5 billion IT Outsourcing Initiative.

If the Minister had bothered to read my comments correctly, he would know that I have consistently and constantly called for the Coalition’s failed outsourcing scheme to be scrapped.

Labor has always maintained that a properly managed IT outsourcing program will deliver benefits to the Australian public.

Unfortunately, the Australian public will have to wait until the election of a Labor Government to see a properly managed strategic sourcing of IT products and services in place, where there is a proved public benefit.

Minister Alston is rattled.

He is trying to deflect attention away from the revelations about payments of tens of millions of dollars to US consultants and the use of the Office of Asset Sales and IT Outsourcing (OASITO) to cover-up for the Coalition’s incompetence.

26/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

8 February 2001 - Media Release

OASITO’s arrogance aimed at protecting Minister

“The Government is ignoring parliamentary rules of accountability by refusing to provide crucial documents to a Senate inquiry”, Senator Lundy said today.

At the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee inquiry into the Coalition’s IT outsourcing debacle, held last night, the Office of Asset Sales and IT Outsourcing (OASITO) were formally requested to provide documents deemed necessary by the Senate committee for the inquiry’s deliberations.

“OASITO arrogantly ignored the request to provide this information”, Senator Lundy said.

“By refusing to provide these documents, OASITO is arguing that the private interests of multinational companies is more important than the public interest and government expenditure of taxpayers’ money.

“These officers must remember that they work for the Commonwealth - not private corporations.

“I accept the outstanding documentation may be commercially sensitive, but the Senate Committee is the appropriate body to determine the level of confidentiality that should apply.

“There is little doubt that OASITO, with the approval of the Minister’s office, is deliberately obstructing public accountability.

“They are covering up for their own incompetence, multi-million dollar consultants and, most significantly, the Minister and Cabinet of the Coalition Government,” Senator Lundy concluded

25/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

7 February 2001 - Media Release

Credibility nose-dive as Alston manipulates IT Outsourcing industry development

“An IT Outsourcing Industry Development Report, released today by Senator Alston, is a desperate attempt to beef-up perceptions that there is some good news for Australian IT small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as a result of the Coalitions IT Outsourcing Program,” Senator Lundy said today.

“Of the six listed ‘industry highlights’ in the report, three were out-of-scope. These ‘out-of-scope initiatives are not related to the IT outsourcing contracts but include work or investments by the outsourcing contractors in the wider industry sector.

“It is only through including these ‘out-of-scope’ factors that Minister Alston is able to claim that industry development targets have been exceeded.

“Beefing up the industry development outcomes with an ever-widening range of out-of-scope initiatives exposes the weakness of the Government’s claims.

“In all likelihood, companies like CSC, EDS and possibly even Advantra would have made these out-of-scope investments regardless of their involvement with IT Outsourcing.

“In a further blatant attempt to boost industry development outcomes, the Government’s recent introduction of the Industry Development Project Register allows multinational corporations to “bank” any investments they may make as collateral for future tenders.

“This is a sop to these huge companies at the expense of real opportunities for growth of IT small to medium enterprises.

“The Coalition has also expanded the definition of ‘regional’ to make it easier for multinational corporations to assist the Minister in his effort to create a perception he cares about regional employment.

“Further, the Labor Party rejects the cloak of secrecy the Coalition has created around the IT Outsourcing contracts, particularly in relation to the industry development promises.

“Aggregating both the ‘in-scope’ and out-of-scope’ outcomes in percentage terms in this Report has made it impossible to discern whether some contractors are meeting their commitments, or whether a strong performance by one is covering up for the feelings of another.

“Evidence contained in the Auditor General’s Report clearly indicates at least some of the IT Outsourcing contractors have failed to meet their commitments,” Senator Lundy said.

24/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

7 February 2001 - Media Release

Safety rethink required after Big Day Out tragedy

Senator Lundy has expressed her concerns over the safety and security of young people attending rock concerts after the tragic death of 15-year-old Jessica Michalik in a crowd surge at the Sydney’s Big Day Out last month.

In a speech to the Senate last night, Senator Lundy expressed her continued support for Big Day Out style festivals but stressed that promoters and organisers of large-scale music events have a legal and moral obligation to ensure every step is taken to ensure the safety and security of crowds.

“The Big Day Out has become a cultural institution in Australia, and, along with events like Homebake, it is a very important part of the music festival scene as well as being a launch-pad for local music and talent,” Senator Lundy said.

“I do not want to see an end to these music festivals.  That said, it is very important that the tragic death of Jessica Michalik not be dismissed as just an unfortunate accident.

“The only positive outcome that may emerge from the Big Day Out tragedy is that there be an immediate reorganisation of crowd control and security at these concerts otherwise such as accident could happen again.

“To their credit, Limp Bizkit quit the Big Day Out tour immediately after Jessica’s injuries became apparent. Their decisive action ensured that safety came to the forefront in the media treatment of Jessica’s death.

“In the US there is a rock concert safety code of practice, and it is time we considered a similar approach.

“It is unacceptable and downright dangerous not to have free and ample supplies of water easily and readily available. Simply spraying a crowd with water is not good enough,” Senator Lundy said.

Senator Lundy urged all music venue and concert organisers to think carefully about their responsibilities and duty of care under the relevant state occupational health and safety legislation and associated public liabilities.

“I continue to welcome and encourage under-age concerts, youth festivals and music festivals of this type, but I do take this opportunity to caution organisers to not put their profit margins first.

“They need to make a priority the safety and security of the young people and, in fact, all people attending the concerts that are their responsibility.

“For so many young people in particular, these concerts are a social highlight, a very special event in their lives, and there is absolutely no reason that they should be putting their health at risk by attending them,” Senator Lundy said.

On behalf of Federal Parliament Senator Lundy offered deepest sympathy to the family and friends of 15-year-old Jessica Michalik.

Members of the public who want to send their condolences to Jessica’s family and friends can do so by visiting the JJJ Big Day Out website.

23/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

6 February 2001 - Media Release

Coalition cover-up continues on IT outsourcing

During Senate question time today, the Acting Minister for Finance, Senator Rod Kemp, refused to answer questions relating to how the Government wasted tens of millions of dollars on the now discredited outsourcing scheme.

“Senator Kemp’s performance today was one of the most incompetent and inept displays I’ve ever seen by a Federal Minister,” Senator Lundy said.

“In response to a series of specific questions, Minister Kemp chose to waffle and simply read out of context recommendations of the Humphry review into IT outsourcing – a review that was highly scathing of the Coalition’s handling of IT outsourcing. 

“The Government is obviously trying to cover-up their massive incompetence by avoiding answering questions and trying to obscure the facts surrounding the incompetent implementation of their IT Outsourcing Program.  

“Further evidence of this pitiful attempt to cover up Ministerial incompetence is the refusal to date of OASITO to provide crucial information requested by the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee Inquiry,” Senator Lundy said.

The second hearing of this Inquiry will proceed tomorrow evening from 5.30 in Committee Room 2S1. 

22/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

6 February 2001 - Media Release

Lundy expresses concerns over Kemp’s attitude to Roundtable

The Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, today congratulated the 50 new young people who will be attending the 2001 Youth Roundtable, but has expressed concern over the Minister Kemp’s attitude towards the development of youth policy in Australia.

“Ever since the Minister defunded the national youth peak advisory body for being critical of Coalition policy and replaced it with a Government selected group of young people, he has politicised youth affairs in Australia.

“This clearly raises doubt about the Minister’s credentials and genuine commitment to the development of youth affairs’ policy in Australia.

“Mr Kemp has consistently refused opportunities for formal meetings between Roundtable members and the Opposition and other parliamentarians and has limited access by Labor to attending only topic group presentations and some meal and refreshment breaks - and then only after pressure was applied.

“If Mr Kemp wants to be regarded as a credible Youth Affairs Minister he should allow Youth Roundtable members unrestricted access to all political parties and political views, allow them to submit detailed reports, not to be recalcitrant in releasing Roundtable recommendations and to publicly distribute their outcome reports.

“Labor’s only priority is that the Minister makes good his commitment to the Roundtable, to treat the work of participants with respect and make himself accountable for the Youth Roundtable outcomes.

“Labor’s criticisms have never been directed at members of the Youth Roundtable.

“Despite the Minister recently resorting to name-calling, my position has been supported by former members of the Roundtable, and members of the youth sector who share similar concerns about the Minister’s lack of accountability. 

“The Minister himself has also supported my claims through Senate Estimates answers and departmental statements circulated on youth sector e-groups.

“The National Youth Roundtable is a unique opportunity for these young people and I hope their opinions and views are listened to, accessible, treated with respect and acted upon by the Government.

2 February 2001 - Media Release

Exercise the best way to combat diabetes

Researchers in the United States have once again emphasised the importance of repeated physical activity in the battle against diabetes.

The American College of Sports Medicine has reported that the most effective way to combat type-2 diabetes is regular, ongoing physical activity. According to the College, type-2 diabetes results in an underproduction of insulin, meaning that not enough glucose, which is used to produce energy, is made.

Type-2 diabetes usually strikes overweight people aged over 40, however there have been increasing reports of young Australians suffering from type-2 diabetes. This latest research confirms that regular physical activity reduces blood sugar levels, which greatly assists the way the body utilises its food supply.

Diabetes and obesity is a major health problem for young Australians, with the rate of childhood obesity having doubled in Australia over the past 15 years. An estimated 20 per cent of young Australians are overweight or obese.

One of the main factors accounting for the dramatic rise in childhood obesity and type-2 diabetes is lack of regular physical activity. Research conducted by the University of South Australia’s School of Physical Education last year revealed that participation in sport and physical activity is actually decreasing.

Young Australians who have weight-related health problems typically have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high insulin and a higher risk of diabetes.

“Increasing participation in regular physical activity is obviously the key to addressing this and other major health problems confronting young Australians, Senator Lundy said.

“Young people in Australia have some fantastic sporting role models but despite this there is a growing divine between those who participate and the majority of young people who watch.

“This needs to be addressed on a number of levels.

As policy makers we need to find the balance between funding for elite and community-based sports, portray youth sport heroes in a way that everyday young people can relate to and tap into current youth culture in order to effectively deliver these health messages,” Senator Lundy said.