29 March 2007 - Media Release

Gallery Report Raises New Concerns

Today the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) released a draft report on allegations that a cancer cluster existed at the NGA.  

Although the draft report only covers the first stage of a two stage investigation process, Labor will pursue a number of issues arising in this report with the NGA at the Senate Budget Estimates in May.

While experts “identified a number of potential exposures to definite or suspected carcinogens”, the report concluded that there was no conclusive proof that practices of the Gallery had lead to the reported cancers.

“I welcome this report as it acknowledges important, long-standing health issues at the Gallery and is an indication of the Gallery’s willingness to address the concerns raised by employees and their union”, Senator Lundy said.

However, I note with concern that the report also acknowledged that only 10% of the NGA’s staff participated in the investigation, and that several people expressed concerns that others who might have relevant information did not assist the investigation because they feared their jobs at the Gallery would be threatened in some way.

A list of the report’s recommendations is attached

Contact: Rachel Allen - 6230 0411 or 0418 488 295

 28 March 2007 - Media Release

Federal Labor’s $50 million Solar Home Power Plan

Senator Kate Lundy this morning officially launched the ANU Student Association's Environment Collective campaign to fundraise $100,000 to convert the student association building to solar power, making the building carbon neutral.  

"This is a terrific initiative on the part of the students involved. This project shows how local organisations, like the ANU Students Association, can make a difference globally by directly tackling the causes of dangerous climate change", Senator Lundy said.

The Student Association's commitment comes on the same day that Labor has released its Solar Home Power Plan which would see double the funding for rebates to install solar panels across Australia to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

A Rudd Labor Government would provide up to $4000 a household - about 25 per cent of the cost of a typical domestic solar power system – as part of the $50 million four year Solar Home Power Plan.

It would be available to homeowners and builders to install solar power in Australian homes, schools and community buildings.

“Kevin Rudd and Labor are developing fresh and practical solutions to tackle climate change at a local level. This new plan is a real opportunity for us all to tackle climate change in our own backyard”, Senator Lundy commented.

Solar power:

Labor's plan will allow around 12,000 Australian households to install cleaner, greener power reducing greenhouse emissions by up to 16,800 tonnes a year. That is the equivalent of taking 4000 cars off the road for a full year.

“Australia’s long-term prosperity will only be secured by tackling the threat of climate change. For too long, climate change sceptics have sat on their hands and ignored the warning signs”, Senator Lundy concluded. 

It is now time to act, both globally and - importantly - in the Nation's Capital.

Contact: Rachel Allen - 6230 0411 or 0418 488 295

28 March 2007 - Media Release

National Capital Committee advises Minister that Inquiry into Albert Hall is required

The Joint Standing Committee of the National Capital and External Territories resolved today to write to the Minister to advise him that the Committee intends to conduct an inquiry at the appropriate time into Amendment 53, which relates to the Albert Hall and the surrounding precinct.

This correspondence foreshadows the Committee's intention to the Minister, who will formally seek the Committee's views as to whether an inquiry is necessary once the NCA's consultation process, due to conclude on 4 May, has been completed.

The NCA has a poor record on consultation and I hope that by foreshadowing a public inquiry, we can ensure the widest possible input and discussion with interested people.

We don't want repeats of previous poor practice when it comes to community consultation.

Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295

27 March 2007 - Media Release

Canberra Commuters Set to Lose Comcare Entitlements

The Coalition Government is trying to push amendments to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) through the Senate today.

The Government's amendment will change the Comcare workers compensation scheme placing further limitations on workers compensation entitlements.

Under the Government's new laws, Commonwealth employees and ACT public service employees will no longer be entitled to benefits relating to injuries sustained going to or from work or on a lunch break.

The changes will also affect employees of those private-sector corporations whi have elected to self insure under the Comcare scheme.

"I have already received a number of concerns from members of the Canberra community about how this Bill will affect their daily lives", Senator Lundy said. 

"For example, many Canberrans enjoy cycling to work in morning as part of a healthy lifestyle, under the Government's proposed new laws those workers will no longer receive payments for loss of wages or medical expenses if they are injured on the way to or from work", Senator Lundy continued.

Julia Gillard, Labor's Industrial Relations spokesperson, has also raised concerns about the Government's proposed changes.

"Labor opposes this legislation because, like all legislation on industrial relations matters presented by the Government, this legislation is ultimately not in the interests of working Australians", Ms Gillard said.

Unlike the Howard Government, Labor will make genuine improvements in the area of occupational health and safety across Australian workplaces and appropriate compensation is an essential part of that.

Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295

24 March 2007 - Media Release

At least the AFL knows it has a drug problem

It’s easy for criticism to be levelled at the AFL because they have promoted their out-of-competition illicit drug testing policy and worked hard to implement it amidst criticism and misunderstanding.

Unfortunately for the AFL, it just has not worked everywhere with recent media reports pointing to the use of drugs amongst some high profile AFL players despite the policy having been in place for a while.

Any culture of tolerance and cover-up of illicit drug use is despicable no matter what the circumstances, and the AFL or any other sport is no exception. The challenge for all sports is to foster a culture of leadership based on health and fitness within their ranks. It’s not good enough to only impose penalties when someone is caught.

The AFL must to do more and events this week highlight strongly the need for the AFL to ramp up their campaign against illicit drug use in the interests of the health, safety and wellbeing of players and wider AFL community.

AFL players are expected to display the highest standards of behaviour both on and off the field because they are role models for children and young adults in particular.

The AFL has led Australian sports in their investment in an out-of-competition illicit drug testing program for players in addition to mandatory testing for performance enhancing drugs required under the WADA Code.

It is the AFL that has set these expectations at a high level and so it is in the interests of the AFL to ensure they are met.

This will require commitment and vigilance on behalf of all the clubs under the leadership of the AFL. If this vigilance and commitment is lacking, this undermines the positive effect a strong policy on out-of-competition combined with in-competition illicit drug testing ought to have.

In recognition of the AFL’s controversial lead on out-of-competition illicit drug testing, the challenge exists for other prominent sports to do the same thing.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059

21 March 2007 - Media Release

AFL Support for Indigenous School Kids

Labor congratulates the AFL for the launch of its AFL All-Stars Ambassadors Program to encourage young Indigenous people to stay at school and get a job. 

The AFL’s leadership in Indigenous communities has been fantastic. 

The AFL’s sports programs are linking young people in some of the most remote parts of Australia like Gove and Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory to the wider world. 

It is good to see female sports like softball included in the AFL’s programs to engage young people at school.

Young girls also need female role models and mentors to encourage them to get involved in sport and stay at school. Sport can be equally empowering for young girls as it is for young boys. 

Once again the AFL has led the way in the absence of Government action on sport and community development.  We need national leadership to engage girls and boys in sports that they can participate throughout their lives. 

More info: Moksha Watts 0409 774 266  or Taryn Langdon 02 6277 3334 or 0417 148 059

18 March 2007 – Media Alert

Senator Lundy to Address Canberra Anti Iraq War Rally

Senator Kate Lundy will be addressing an anti-war rally at 12.30, Sunday 18 March. There will be similar rallies around the world in recognition of the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295

15 March 2007 - Media Statement

Humphries Failed the ACT on Aged Care

This week is Seniors Week in the ACT, and a timely reminder of the persistent issues that our senior citizens face with regard to accessing appropriate aged care.

Recent figures show that the ACT had the worst shortage of aged care beds in the country. In the ACT there are only 71.5 beds for every 1000 people over 70, this equates to a shortage of 368 beds.

As Chief Minister for the ACT, Senator Humphries failed to plan for Canberra’s ageing population and failed to deliver more aged care facilities for the ACT.

During the six and a half years of the Carnell/Humphries ACT Liberal Government, a pitiful 14 new aged care beds were made available. This shows Humphries lack of planning foresight and lack of concern for Canberra senior citizens.

The current ACT Labor Government is working hard to make up for Humphries failure. Over the past three years the ACT Labor Government has released land for an extra 900 aged care beds, 128 are currently under construction and a further 548 expected to be completed over the next two years.

The ACT Labor Government has managed to secure an extra 900 aged care beds despite the national trend under the Howard Government that has seen a surplus of 800 aged care beds in 1996 turn into a 4613 shortfall by June 2006.

“The shortage of aged care beds in the ACT has been an enduring legacy of the Carnell/Humphries Government and a legacy that the ACT Labor Government has been tackling over the past six years” Senator Lundy said.

“I congratulate the ACT Government for bucking the national trend and securing more aged care beds for Canberrans. This is an important investment for our senior citizens and their families” Senator Lundy concluded.
Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295

12 March 2007 - Media Release

Cost of Abbott's health care leaves working Australians behind

The increasingly poor health of Australia's most disadvantaged has been reinforced again today with the release of a University of Queensland research published by the World Health Organisation.

The research analysed the last three National Health Surveys (1989, 1995 and 2001) and showed that the health gap between rich and poor Australians was growing and likely to grow further if something was not done about it.

Both the cost to working families of the Government’s health policies and the social determinants of health have long been ignored by the Howard Government at the expense of the indigenous population and those communities with the least resources already.

Tony Abbott's constant blame of the individual when it comes to preventable illness and health promotion shows that he is oblivious to the barriers and adversity that some Australians face in getting a healthy meal on the table and exercising for good health.

The report highlighted that socioeconomic inequalities were increasing and that strategies were "needed to more obviously target those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged". Highlighting Australia's growing obesity crisis, the report noted that Australia's efforts to increase levels of physical activity had been piecemeal and ineffective.

The report stated that "there is a real need to learn more about the social and physical barriers that prevent those who are most disadvantaged from engaging in higher levels of physical activity."

This is exactly what Labor has been talking about. Instead of ignoring the long term value of prevention or opting for piecemeal band-aid approaches favoured by the Howard Government, Labor wants to get to the heart of the problem.

Unlike Tony Abbott, Labor sees the importance of prioritising illness prevention and health promotion. Labor will work effectively with States, Territories and Local Governments to ensure programs, education and support get to the communities who need it the most.

It is common sense that healthy living programs specifically targeting the barriers disadvantaged communities face are fundamental to bringing back equity into Australian lifestyles - and their all important health outcomes.

Contact: Allison Henry (Roxon) 0417 108 362
Taryn Langdon (Lundy) 0417 148 059

1 March 2007 - Media Release

Women Worse Off Under Work Choices

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that women are worse off under the Howard Government’s extreme new workplace laws.

The ABS figures reveal that under Work Choices, women employed on Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA’s) earn less per hour than women employed under a collective agreement.

On average, women working full-time under an AWA earn $2.30 less an hour than women on a collective agreement. Women working part-time earn on average $3.70 less and casuals earn a staggering $4.70 less.

The massive pay gap between women on AWA’s and those on collective agreements working in casual employment is particularly alarming. Women are over-represented in  highly casualised industries, such as retail and hospitality, this mean that the widening pay gap is hitting women the hardest.

Although the figures relate to May 2006, capturing the effects of only the first two months of Work Choices, it can only be expected the pay gap will continue to widen as more and more workers are forced onto AWA’s without the protection of a no disadvantage test. 

How can this Government continue to say that workers are better off under Work Choices when these ABS figures make it plainly obvious that women employed under AWA’s are being paid less?

Women, particularly in lower paid industries that have traditionally relied on award conditions and pay, such as hospitality, retail and care industries, are doing it tougher under Howard’s new laws.

Labor will restore the balance between employers and employees in the workplace to ensure all workers get a fair go at work.

Contact: Rachel Allen - 0418 488 295