23 July 1999 - Media Alert

National Tree Day

Australia has about 10% of the world’s biological diversity, however over the past 200 years we have lost about half of our rainforest and more than 30% of other forests and woodlands. Planting just 7 native trees will offset the emissions of one car for a year. ACT residents, along with representatives from ACT for Trees, will be volunteering their time to participate in the Planet Ark National Tree Day this Sunday.

What:     Planet Ark’s National Tree Day

When:     Sunday, 25 July, 12 Noon

Where:     Nature strip alongside McNamara Street, Pearce

Why:     To protect our planet!

Who:      ACT residents, ACT for Trees volunteers

Our thanks go to Will Raymont, ACT Parks and Places, for preparing the site and supplying the seedlings.

66/99. Contact: Ann Milne on  62773334

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14 July 1999 -Media Release

IT & T presents new opportunities for Australian women

The Internet is re-setting power relationships and presenting new opportunities for Australian Women, Senator Kate Lundy told FITT, a Females in Technology and Telecommunications luncheon in Sydney today. (Full presentation)

"For many women, the Internet’s chaotic overload of information and worldly scope presents not an intimidating technical mass, but a space within which we can put our intuitive, lateral approach to life and work to good use" Senator Lundy said.

"In the past, new technologies have been the playground for men, however the Internet is different.

"Statistically, women are using the Internet in almost equal numbers to men. In some respects this is not surprising, with many more women having the input skills necessary to use computers.

"With the widely acknowledged skills shortage in IT and the comparatively small number of women in IT related courses it is good to see many initiatives emerging to demolish the discriminatory barriers, be they structural or perceived, to women’s participation.

"Studies into why less women consider technical careers in IT indicate that women often associate computers with secretarial work and they perceive this stereotypical sexist connotation as a negative. So while some men receive peer commendations about having conquered the latest technological innovation, we know they have just learnt to click a mouse and open a file.

"For the economic rationalists and misogynists out there, take heed, as there are as many dry arguments for investing significant resources into ensuring more women choose IT as are there are philosophical arguments of equity", Senator Lundy said.

"These arguments include the fact that Australia’s trade deficit in Information and Communication Technologies is ballooning and will grow from $6b to $46b if left unchecked within five years.  This means we need to support our own ICT industry and create jobs here.

"The clever people emerging through our education system then need to be able to get work here. Otherwise we will continue to lose our IT talent at the astounding rate of 1000 per month, which is the figure offered by Morgan and Banks recruitment director, James Morgan.

"With an estimated 30,000 IT vacancies here, and over 115,000 in Silicon Valley, the pressure and competition for these bright minds is fierce. No bitsy, half-baked approach will deal with this.  I commend FITT for their continuing efforts to highlight these issues and challenges to Government.

21^st Century Women
FITT Address - Parliament House
Sydney 14 July 1999

65/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295 or 62773334

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13 July 1999 - Media Rlease

Paralympic Week July 17 - 23

Paralympic Week, which will be held between July 17 and 23 1999, is an opportunity for all Australians to support Paralympic sport in the lead-up to the Paralympic Games, Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for Sport, said today.

The theme for the 1999 Paralympic Week is Blood, Sweat and Tears. This represents the blood of the nation, the sweat of our athlete’s preparation and training and the tears of determination as our athletes strive for their goals.

"Paralympic Week is about recognising the tremendous efforts of Paralympic athletes. They are elite athletes and the Paralympic Games are as prestigious and important as the Olympic Games.

"At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, the Australian Paralympic Team won 42 gold medals, 37 silver medals and 27 bronze medals. This placed Australia second in the world in the gold medal tally, behind the USA.

"The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, which will be held from October 18 - 29 2000, will offer a total of 528 gold medals with approximately 300 athletes competing in all 18 sports.

Despite the overwhelming success of our Paralympic athletes, Senator Lundy said funding for Paralympic sport remains disproportionately low, with some able bodied sports receiving more funding than the total allocation for Australia’s Paralympic athletes.

64/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295

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