28 July 2003 - Media Release

The Coalition’s cultural divide

The Coalition has put community cultural activities on the backburner, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics today releasing findings that reveal the Commonwealth Governments funding of Community Cultural Activities has more than halved, falling from $53.3 million (2000-01) to $24.7 million (2001-02) a total of $28.6 million or a decrease of 53.6%.

This meanness is typical of the Howard Government, with the cuts directly affecting community arts programs which reach the most disenfranchised sectors of our society.

Community cultural activities provide hope, enjoyment and a sense of self for millions of Australians and deliver enormous social and economic benefits which target minority groups and the less well off.

I call on the Howard government to recognise the importance of community cultural activities to the social fabric of Australians and reinstate funding to the sectors of the Arts community which need it most.

Media contact: Adina Cirson ‑ (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

23 July 2003 - Media Release

Coalition flicks ICT procurement problems to SMEs to solve

Once again the Coalition has missed the point on ICT procurement. The “Selling ICT to Government” Guide released today is only half of the picture - explaining what ICT small businesses can do for themselves to get government contracts.

Predictably, the other half of the picture is missing. Where is the document entitled "How Government will create opportunities for ICT small businesses”?

It is typical of Minister Alston to create a process that exploits the goodwill of industry representatives, and then bastardises the process to ensure there are few or no obligations on the Government to do anything. Once again nothing changes.

Just like the Broadband Advisory Group and the Framework for the Future Committee, the time and effort of industry representatives on the Joint Industry/ Government Working Group to address barriers facing SMEs contracting to government has been wasted.

The Howard Government has an appalling track record on ICT procurement - from the debacle of the IT Outsourcing Program, its failure to enforce industry development commitments by multinationals and now this insulting culmination of a process that began over two years ago with the Humphry Review.

Unless the Howard Government makes a concerted effort to remove the barriers that inhibit ICT small businesses from selling to Federal Departments and Agencies, the impact of this guide will be minimal.

It stands to reason that, on its own, a booklet will be of little help to Australian small businesses trying to sell to the Federal Government if Departments and Agencies do not want to buy from them.

Australia is blessed with many talented and innovative ICT small businesses, employing Australians in high-skill and high-wage jobs. They are very capable of providing the value for money required by Government purchasers.

Unfortunately, this guide shows the Coalition is content to tie the ICT industry up in a talk-fest to stifle deserved criticism, whilst leaving the big end of town with all the advantages when tendering for Commonwealth Government work.

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

18 July 2003 - Media Release

Cathy Freeman: Thankyou for the memories and the inspiration

On behalf of the Federal Labor Party, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Cathy Freeman for all she has done for women, sport, indigenous Australians and Australia.

Kathy is both an icon of a successful Australian woman and a person who continues to warm everyone's heart with her down-to-earth style.

I wish her all the best in the future as I know she will be a success in whatever endeavour she chooses. Her achievements on the track will stand forever as some of Australia's greatest.

Simon Crean, Federal Labor Leader said this on the day of Cathy's retirement from competitive athletics:

"Cathy Freeman has been a wonderful inspiration to all Australians. She pursued a passion and thrilled us all with her talent.  None of us will ever forget the wonderful night in Sydney three year ago when she brought the entire nation together.

But neither will anyone of us ever forget the moment when she picked up the flag of her country and the flag of her people and brought all Australians together in a magnificent act of reconciliation.

It is a huge loss that we will never again get to see her run in the green and gold but as a great ambassador for her people, her nation and the cause of reconciliation, I have no doubt we have not heard or seen the last of Cathy Freeman."

15 July 2003 - Media Release

Museum Review a time warp back to the 1950’s

The review of the National Museum of Australia advocates a whitewashing of Australian History. This is in accordance with John Howard’s view that Australia should focus on the great achievements of white men in Australia, rather than the complex and diverse stories that make up Australian culture.

This disappointing review recommends that we should be simply retelling the stories we learnt in school, rather than adding to our understanding of all facets of our Australian history, and provides some hackneyed "suggestions" for implementing these stories.

Instead of advocating a 21st century museum exploring our national make-up, the review prefers a 20th century museum which puffs up "exemplary individual, group and institutional achievements."

Australians would rather have a "fair dinkum" approach by their national museum when looking at our past, rather than some kind of historical public relations exercise.

The review goes further to suggest that if there is not enough tangible evidence to substantiate events then they may not be included in the Museum’s collection. To imply that ‘oral evidence’ specifically relating to the ‘Contested Frontiers’ exhibition, which deals with the mistreatment and massacre of the Aboriginal people, is perhaps not enough to justify the telling of this story, is abhorrent.

Colonial authorities were not averse to white-washing the murders of Aboriginal people by leaving them out of the records. Now John Howard's hand-picked review panel wants the NMA to continue the whitewash in our national museum.

The review also implies that the ‘Horizons’ exhibition which contains a module corner devoted to quarantine of immigrants creates an ‘unbalanced’ view of migration to this country. This is an absurd attempt to wipe out any truth relating to the treatment of immigrants and refugees by our country.

I agree with the concerns of the review about shortcomings concerning the construction of the museum building. The review highlights that; "Acoustic problems to the point of cacophony, through much of the public space, arise because of poor design and application, and inferior quality equipment." In other words, budget cuts have impacted on the quality of the building.

I call on the Howard Government to reject this whitewash of Australia’s history and to fund the necessary infrastructure improvements.

8 July 2003 - Media Release

What happens after incubation?

Senator Alston has been quick to praise the organisations that received funding from the Building on IT Strengths (BITS) Incubator Program. However the Howard Government has created uncertainty for these incubators, and has not committed to funding this program beyond July 1 2004.

The last budget presented the government with an opportunity to provide forward funding … instead it blatantly refused more money, giving only weasel words about what would happen after a belated review.

Incubators play a crucial role in assisting ideas, research and development to be commercialised and built into viable companies. They are an important part of Australia’s innovation landscape, even more so in the midst of a downturn in the global ICT industry.

The Howard Government has delivered the worst possible outcome for an industry that is already suffering - uncertainty for incubators, followed by a withdrawal of funds just when they are starting to be demonstrably successful.

Labor congratulates the organisations participating in the BITS Incubator Program for taking advantage of the government support (while it lasts) and using it to create some excellent commercial opportunities and successes.

I call on the Howard Government to continue to fund the BITS Incubator Program beyond 2004 and to realise that what is needed is long-term investment in future development and sustainability.

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

6 July 2003 - Media Release

An Australian Inspiration: Mark Philippoussis

I offer my Congratulations to Mark Philippoussis for his achievements to date on the international tennis circuit.

Mark Philippoussis is a proud, persistent achiever that has grown stronger as a result of the setbacks and challenges that have punctuated his sporting career.

Philippoussis’ pride in his Greek heritage and his Australian citizenship represents the wonderful spirit and immense value of a diverse multicultural society.

His success is also a showcase for the special and unique role sport can play in creating opportunities for young people in Australia to follow their dreams.

Mark Philippoussis is an inspiration to all Australians.

My thoughts will join millions of Australians in wishing Mark all the best for his final tonight - whatever happens he is a true champion.

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

4 July 2003 - Media Release

Film censorship concern.

The closing down last night of the screening in Sydney of the movie Ken Park is disturbing.

This follows the decision of the Office of Film and Literature Classification to refuse classification to the film.

I believe that in a free society adults should be able to view whatever they want, provided that those involved in the making of the film have broken no laws, for instance relating to the exploitation of children.

The classification system also plays a key role in protecting children from inappropriate material. However, it has never been suggested that this film would receive anything other than a restricted classification.

In Australia the OFLC has been established to classify films to reflect community standards, and to allow to people to make informed judgements about what they want to see.

I make no judgement about this particular film. That is not my role, and nor should it be.

I am concerned that the OFLC seems to have made a decision at variance with many other countries. Ken Park has been shown at many other film festivals around the world, and has been sold commercially to 30 countries.

I simply ask the question, is the OFLC reflecting community standards on this film? And what efforts were made to obtain community input in the decision?

There is genuine concern within the film community and the broader community about increasingly conservative and restrictive decisions being made by the OFLC.

Our classification regime must not be allowed to become a censorship regime.

I am also sorry for the members of the NSW Police Force who found themselves in a difficult situation last night, but who carried out their duties in the professional and courteous manner the community expects of them.

Media contact: Adina Cirson - (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295; or John Cook - (02) 6277 4022

4 July 2003 - Media Release

Coalition only paid lip-service to Open Source alternative

The Howard Government has only feigned interest in Open Source Software, delivering no practical outcomes other than a seminar earlier this year.

Once again it has been left up to Labor, both at a state and federal level, to take the initiative and investigate Open Source Software as an alternative to proprietary software.

Some of the potential advantages of using open source software in Government projects include:

Labor calls on the Howard Government to immediately require all Federal Agencies and Departments to assess the merits of open source equally with proprietary software when making decisions about their ICT solutions. In particular, locally produced software products should be considered, with the aim of creating opportunities for domestic industry.

Labor will release a discussion paper on open source software for Government ICT contracts in the near future. In the meantime I am closely watching developments at the State Government level.

It is time the Howard Government took this issue seriously. Its lack of interest in ICT, its inability to see ICT infrastructure as critical, and lack of commitment to Australian ICT industry development is well known. When will they recognise that creating high skill, high wage jobs for the future must be a priority?

Media contact: Jason Ives - (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 237 683

2 July 2003 - Media Release

The Arts Portfolio enters a new era

I am extremely pleased to be taking responsibility for the Arts Portfolio in addition to my existing Shadow Ministerial Portfolios of Information Technology and Sport.

Arts form the basis for Australian culture and self-identity. It is important that Governments pay them the attention they deserve, or we risk losing our cultural heritage.

I have extremely big shoes to fill following Bob McMullan’s excellent work and commitment to the Arts portfolio.

There are exciting synergies and opportunities that the combination of my portfolios will bring and I will take great pleasure in developing.

Media contact: Adina Cirson 0418 488 295

1 July 2003 - Media Release

Women and Families dudded by Howard Government

As a range of Budget taxation measures come into effect today, women and families are set to be the worst affected in terms of jobs, health, education, assistance programs, maternity provisions and women’s rights representation. The 1st July 2003 marks yet another step in the Howard Government’s plan to penalise women and favour the rich at the expense of the poor.

The Coalition Government has a shameful record of growing discrimination and lack of regard for the concerns facing families and women. In 2003 the women of Australia are seeking a progressive and alternative vision, - and Labor will provide it.
A copy of the speech is available from my office

Media contact: Adina Cirson 0418 488 295