30 March 2004 - Media Release

Parliament House Art Collection under threat

The Howard Government has attacked the integrity and collection principles of the Parliament House Art Collection in a report prepared in response to complaints by Howard Government members.

Not only do these proposed changes threaten the integrity of the Parliament House Art Collection which is currently valued at $85.6 million, but acceptance of the recommendations threatens to end the purchase of original works of art by Australian living and emerging artists, with a key recommendation stating that it should not be the responsibility of the collection to support emerging artists and that;

“….should not as a rule collect the work of emerging artists.”

The Parliament House Art Collection as a public collection and indeed one which is admired around the world. The Collection plays an appropriate and vital role in the support of living and emerging artists and their cultural development and it is this principle which ensures that the Collection remains so identifiably Australian.

While a recommendation which calls for an expansion of the collection, and better representation of more regional areas of Australia is commendable, this should not come at the expense of the visionary nature and guiding principles upon which the Collection was founded.

This review, as is typical of cultural reviews instigated by the Howard Government, is yet another example of Howard’s war on culture and his view that Australian culture and the telling of our history should only focus on the great achievements of Anglo-Saxon males in Australia, rather than the complex and diverse stories that accurately reflect Australian culture.

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

29 March 2004 - Media Release

Government Rejects its own Cabinet "Fat Fund" Blueprint

The Howard Government's latest plan to tackle Australia's growing obesity crisis is so lacking in substance and credibility that even Government Cabinet members are calling for it to be scrapped.

Their latest scheme, to provide a "Fat Grants Plan", has been slammed by experts in the health industry as nothing more than a marginal electorate vote winning scam.

Under the "Fat Grants Plan" Government MP's could lobby for funds to support healthy living projects in their electorate.

There is a genuine concern that arbitrarily allocating grants in this manner will see funds being directed toward marginal seats to buy votes and away from areas that genuinely require support.

Labor committed $25 million of new money under their policy Tackling Obesity and Promoting Community Wellbeing: Labor’s plan for a healthier and more active Australia over six months ago. This money will be used to develop and implement initiatives to foster community participation opportunities and to focus on childhood obesity strategies.

Labor has been calling on the Howard Government to take some serious action in response to the National Obesity Taskforce recommendations which were handed down last November. So far the Howard Government has failed to put into effect any of the substantive initiatives recommended in this report.

It was difficult to imagine that the Howard Government could have come up with a more scurrilous idea than their "Fat Camps" or "Fat Tax" plan, which even the Prime Minister labelled as "ridiculous and unrealistic".

The "Fat Grants Plan" however, which is nothing more than a rort to use what is a serious health issue to buy off votes, may just be that scurrilous idea.

Contact: Kate Roffey - (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 969 364

23 March 2004 - Media Release

NCA slammed for pitiful consultation record

Once again it appears the National Capital Authority has taken their own planning rules with a pinch of salt and failed to adequately consult with residents directly affected by proposed changes to State Circle blocks.

Today the Joint Standing Committee on National Capital and External Territories met to hear concerns from residents about Draft Amendment 39, stating that the consultation process conducted by the NCA was not adequate.

The main point of contention for residents is the NCA’s decision to dramatically alter the proposed changes to State Circle blocks, primarily increasing the height restrictions from 2 to 3 storeys.

While the Committee has already held an inquiry into Draft Amendment 39 – and published its report in October 2002, the changes to the height restrictions meant that the Senate Committee has had to revisit Draft Amendment 39 as part of the inquiry into the role of the NCA.

Residents of surrounding areas – primarily those in Canterbury and Somers Crescents are furious about the changes and produced a signed statement which had 60 (out of a possible 80) signatures of those opposed the NCA changes.

Even developers are unhappy, today giving evidence which outlined how the NCA proposals will lead to poor design outcomes.

But perhaps the most alarming outcome of today’s hearing is that the NCA seems to have one set of rules for parties who agree with the NCA’s views and another approach for parties who disagree with their views.

There should not be such major discrepancies in the handling of planning issues falling under the responsibility of the National Capital Authority and it is simply not good enough that the NCA continue to make up the rules as they go along.

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

22 March 2004 - Media Release

Howard Government Has Dropped the Ball on Drug Testing

Until recently the Australian Institute of Sport was leading the world in the development of tests that could be used to successfully expose blood doping cheats.

In an inexplicable and totally unjustified move however, the Howard Government placed a ban on this world leading research being conducted, despite the fact that the test developed by AIS scientists was accepted by the IOC for use at the Sydney Olympics.

In answer to questions asked at Senate Estimates, it was confirmed that in April 2001 the Minister for Sport issued a directive that the AIS confine its participation in anti-doping research to intellectual property. In essence this meant that the AIS's world leading scientists could contribute to the scientific design of research studies and assist in the evaluation of research findings, but could not conduct any anti-doping research on site at the AIS.

Not surprisingly five of the scientists involved in this cutting edge research have left the AIS after becoming disillusioned as a result of the Government's ban.

The responsibility for conducting research into sports-doping was placed in the hands of the Australian Sports Drug Testing laboratory who as yet have shown no signs that they have completed, or are in fact even conducting, any extensive and world leading research into the development of blood doping detection tests.

As a result Australia has effectively been relegated to a position of passenger rather than pilot in the fight against drugs in sport.

While the Government continues to talk-up their support for their Tough on Drugs in Sport Policy, their actions have spoken much louder than their words. It is totally incomprehensible to think that the Howard Government is genuine about the fight against drugs in sport, when they are banning the very research that will win the battle.

Rather than help get tough on drug cheats, Minister Kemp has got tough on the people who are fighting to expose them.

This, and related issues will be aired on the ABC's Four Corners program tonight.

Contact: Kate Roffey - (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 969 364

10 March 2004 - Media Release

Labor leadership on Resale Rights for Artists

Labor has once again shown leadership by honouring its commitment to introduce a Private Members Bill, by today giving notice that the Resale Royalty Bill 2004 will be introduced into the Senate tomorrow. If passed, a resale royalty scheme for visual artists will be established.

The Bill is designed to implement a key recommendation of the Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft inquiry (The Myer Report published in June 2002).

Despite commissioning the Myer Report, the Howard Government has failed to act on the recommendations.

Currently visual artists producing original works, who sell their work to an art gallery, receive no further income from any future increase in value when the work is resold.

This scheme will create a more equitable system that will bring financial rewards for visual artists more in line with those enjoyed by other artists under the Copyright Act 1968.

Labor’s Resale Royalty Bill 2004 sets a resale right of 5 per cent payable on all acts of resale of artistic work that take place in Australia through an art market intermediary.  This will provide a direct financial benefit to visual artists, particularly indigenous artists, following the on-selling of their original artistic works.

The Australia Council’s Report titled ‘Don’t Give up Your Day Job’ stated that on average, Australian visual artists earn a meagre $7,300 P/A from their art. This is not enough.

The introduction of this legislation is one step in the right direction recognising the value of artists in a civil society and creating a new way for visual artists to earn income from their profession.

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

10 March 2004 - Media Release

Egg on Humphries face as Howard follows Latham lead on NOIE

The Howard Government’s decision to scrap NOIE is another example of just how Labor is leading the policy debate.

Labor announced the decision to scrap NOIE in January, saying there was a better way to manage these IT-related issues.

Clearly the Howard Government agrees!

No doubt Labor will be forced to wait until budget estimates to extract the accurate detail of the Government’s proposal to absorb NOIE into the department (DoCITA).

This announcement leaves ACT Liberal Senator Humphries with egg on his face given the miles he trudged in the press gallery trying to paint himself and the Howard Government as NOIE’s ‘protector’.

Senator Humphries naïve activities expose just how far out of the loop he is, and the contempt his Liberal party peers have for him

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

5 March 2004 - Media Release

Film Commission ‘consultation’ a farce

Despite Howard Government and Australian Film Commission (AFC) assurances that they would engage upon an open and public consultation process around the controversial ScreenSound merger, the AFC has ignored overwhelming opposition to the merger and is already acting on the so called ‘proposals.’

With the ink barely dry on some 105 submissions to the Australian Film Commission’s ‘Review of Programs – Stage 2 Directions Paper’, and no response from the AFC in sight, it seems they have decided to go ahead and implement changes anyway, starting with the closure of the Sydney and Melbourne Archive offices.

The Chief Executive of the Australian Film Commission has repeatedly stated that the action set out in the Directions paper were merely ‘proposals’ and has denounced suggestions that the proposals were the final AFC position. As far as we are aware, the Directions paper has not even been approved by the AFC board.

In addition, the AFC has already advertised for applications for the position of Director of the Archive, despite Labor announcing that a Latham Labor Government would establish the National Film and Sound Archive (ScreenSound Australia) as a Statutory Authority.

Labor once again calls on the Howard Government to implement caretaker arrangements for ScreenSound Australia immediately; quarantining the archive from further change and to ensure that it remains a vital and independent part of Australia’s cultural heritage.

Labor believes that the merger as implemented by the Howard Government threatens the integrity and identity Archive. Australia’s national collection of Australia’s film and sound heritage must be protected and the Howard Government’s illogical marriage of convenience must be undone.

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

5 March 2004 - Media Release

Secret MRT closure surprises Minister and Humphries

Neither the Minister for Immigration or ACT Backbencher Senator Humphries has been able to provide answers to why the Canberra office of the Migration Review Tribunal will be closed on 30 June 2004. 

When asked to provide details under Labor questioning in Senate Question time yesterday, the Minister for Immigration was unable to respond, and had to take the question on notice.

Similarly, Senator Humphries who issued a media release today stated;

“If jobs at the Migration Review Tribunal are at risk, I will take up the issue with the relevant Minister”

Well Senator, according to information received by my office the wind up of this office has apparently been occurring for the past 18 months and that as many as 60 staff have or will be been relocated or made redundant by 30 June 2004. 

If Senator Humphries is as concerned about defending Canberra jobs and opportunities as he makes out, may I suggest that he take a good hard look at the record of the Howard Government over the past 7 years.

Just last week we learnt of the intention to relocate key services such as those provided by the Child Support Agency and now the closure of the Migration Review Tribunal.

Clearly the Prime Minister believes that not only is it more suitable to live in Sydney, but it appears these important services are also better off being delivered from Sydney.

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

4 March 2004 - Media Release

Athletics Australia Review Must be Open and Independent

Minister Kemp's call yesterday for yet another review into AA's operations clearly shows that the organisations situation has not improved under the Ministers guidance, despite confident assurances given last year that AA had an achievable plan that could 'move the sport out of a fairly difficult situation'.

In response to concerns raised by Senator Kate Lundy at a November estimates hearing it was confirmed that ASC consultants were at that time already investigating AA's financial, corporate governance and management difficulties, which included a $1.3 million loss and the dismissing of seven staff.

A genuine investigation into AA's difficulties would be welcomed from all quarters however a rehash of an existing in-house report is a waste of time and money.  Rather than making a resolute move to solve AA's problems, this approach simply represents an attempt by the Government to make a last ditch effort to save face because it has shirked its duty to properly monitor the operations of this NSO when action was called for last year.

A major concern being raised within the athletics community is that this so-called 'wide-ranging' review will not be the open and independent inquiry that is essential to effect real change. Rather it is a stalling tactic being used to save the Minister from having to take genuinely decisive action on this issue presumably as a result of pressure being applied by the AA hierarchy.

The issue of how open and independent this review will be is a legitimate concern given that the terms of reference are being defined via discussions between the ASC and the CEO and Board of AA.

If this review is to be seen as a serious attempt to bring about positive change it must be an open and transparent process that allows all stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, officials and administrators within the sport, to make submissions that will be considered and/or heard by people independent of the current administration without fear of retribution.

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

4 March 2004 - Media Release

Uncertain future for film and television in FTA deal

The Howard Government has not provided the cultural sector with a broad reservation in the Australia – United States Free Trade agreement and its approach has only served to provide uncertainty about Australia’s ability to ensure the future viability of Australian Film and Television Industry.

Labor is particularly concerned that the caps on expenditure for local content on most subscription services (Pay TV) may not be able to rise above 10%. If the Government at any time wishes to increase this quota on drama channels to a new maximum of only 20% over time, they have to consult with the United States.

This consultation mechanism is of particular concern, given that these consultations are likely to be influenced by powerful organisations such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), who have stated that Australia’s right to increase caps on expenditure for local content from 10% to 20% was unfortunate and that;

The Screen Producer’s Association of Australia has grave concerns about the impact of the final outcome for the audiovisual sector stating that;

In the free to air digital multichannelling environment the Government has agreed to a position which may see up to 80% of channels free of local content regulation. Local content therefore may be restricted to no more than two channels or 20% of the total number of channels (whichever is greater) but no more than three channels.

The potential for take up of multi-channelling in the future is unknown at this stage, but despite that, this deal means that there may never be more than three multi-channels per broadcaster which contain Australian content.

In the area of new media, the deal states that if the Australian government finds that Australian consumers are being unreasonably denied access to programming on interactive audio and/or video that the government may seek to introduce measures through a transparent process - providing we permit the United States as an ‘affected’ party to participate in this process. The provision of local content standards to future non-interactive services remains unclear.

Labor believes that there is much more to be uncovered in this deal in relation to the cultural sector, and we intend to pursue these issues in detail through the Senate Select Committee.

Media Contact: Adina Cirson - (02) 6277 3334

3 March 2004 - Media Release

Howard Government fails internet service audit test

Once again, the Howard Government has failed to get Government services and website up to scratch.  The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has found that “monitoring and evaluation of internet services by agencies were not adequate.”  (ANAO Performance Audit: Quality Internet Services for Government Clients – Monitoring and Evaluation by Government Agencies, Audit Report No.30 2003/04)

The Audit Report investigated five agencies as well as the National Office of Information Economy (NOIE), the agency charged with implementing government online policy.

Those investigated were the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ADIC), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Commonwealth Scientific and industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), the Health Insurance Commission (HIC), and the National Office of Information Economy (NOIE).

Findings of the report include –

The overall audit opinion is:

“Overall, in the ANAO’s opinion, the audit concluded that current approaches to the monitoring and evaluation of Internet services by agencies were not adequate.”

This Audit Report demonstrates the lack of policy leadership from both the Howard Government and the Minister responsible for NOIE, who are supposed to provide guidance to agencies regarding online services.

Once again the Howard Government has failed to ensure good practice in the delivery of online services to citizens.  These adverse findings are further evidence of the failings of the Howard Government in relation to the Government’s IT policy.

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

1 March 2004 - Media Release

Save ScreenSound Petitions tabled

Senator Lundy today tabled 1420 signatures requestion that the Senate rejects any recommendation that seeks to undermine ScreenSound Australia as a national institution located in Canberra.

The petitioners signed in overwhelming opposition to the abolishment and/or transfer of jobs and key functions of ScreenSound Australia to Sydney or Melbourne and demanded that the ongoing attacks by the Howard Government on our National Cultural Institutions cease.

Our office is continuing to receive signatures to the petitions and will ensure that all petitions are tabled in the Senate.

Community response since the release of its “Review of Programs, Stage 2 Directions Paper” on 12 December 2003, has been overwhelming and the Australian Film Commission has received some 105 submissions in response to “Directions.”  Of these, 4 submissions can be read as expressing unqualified support for the proposals contained in the “Directions.” 16 submissions did not express a discernible view about “Directions” or its recommendations.

However some 87 submissions were critical of “Directions”.  Criticisms varied from taking issue with particular recommendations to outright dismissal of the paper. Some of “Directions” recommendations received positive comment from some people, but the overwhelming tone of comment was negative.

Labor’s submission rejects the proposals contained in “Directions” and reiterated our commitment to establishing the National Film and Sound Archive (ScreenSound Australia) as a Statutory Authority upon winning Government, to ensure that it remains a vital and independent part of Australia’s cultural heritage. 

Labor believes that the merger proposed by the Howard Government threatens the integrity and identity of the film and sound archive. 

It is time to ensure that Australia’s national collection of Australia’ s film and sound heritage be protected and so the Howard Government’s illogical marriage of convenience must be undone.

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