31 March 2001 - Media Release

Lundy Launches Labor’s Youth Kit

Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, launched Labor’s new Youth Kit today at the National Young Labor conference currently being held in Canberra.

“This kit has been designed especially for young people. It aims to provide the necessary information to assist young people, particularly school-leavers, to make their own decisions about their future directions, and to help them find their own solutions to the problems and issues they face,” Senator Lundy said today.

The Youth Kit provides comprehensive information about a range of subjects, such as: 

“I have spoken to many young school-leavers, tertiary students and job seekers in my role as Shadow Youth Affairs Minister, who have told me that they often feel confused, frustrated and/or lack confidence in accessing government services and making decisions affecting their future career pathways.

“We have produced this Youth Kit so young people can get all the important information they need in one place.

“The Kit won’t answer all their questions but, if it doesn’t, it will tell them where they need to go to get the answer,” Senator Lundy concluded.

Young people and youth organisations can receive a copy of the Youth Kit by contacting Senator Lundy’s office or their local Federal Labor member.

28 March 2001 - Media Release

Alston’s each-way bet on wagering

Senator Alston’s latest position on Internet wagering is a major back flip and shows the Coalition is lacking any policy principles, Senator Kate Lundy said today.

When Minister Alston first introduced legislation proposing a moratorium on Internet gambling, he included gaming (casino style games) and wagering (sports betting).

When that Bill was defeated, Senator Alston removed wagering from the Coalition’s moratorium on Interactive gambling, claiming that wagering and gaming were entirely different activities, in order to ensure passage through the Senate.

But now Senator Alston is once again proposing a total ban on Internet wagering as well as gaming.

“This latest act of hypocrisy exposes Alston’s each-way bet on wagering,” Senator Lundy said. (see attached Hansard extract).

“One minute he says sports betting must be banned, the next he claims it’s completely different from gaming, and now he’s back to pursuing a ban!

“Another fundamental weakness of the Coalition’s Interactive Gambling Bill is that, according to Senator Alston:

“This is an absurd proposition, made worse because the Coalition has ignored the opportunity to provide leadership to the States to regulate through licensing effective consumer protection for Australians who chose to place a bet”, Senator Lundy said.

45/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 62773334 or 0418 488295

27 March 2001 - Media Release

Interactive Gambling hypocrisy

Today’s announcement by Senator Alston that the Government will introduce legislation prohibiting Australians from accessing interactive gambling and wagering services is an unworkable approach to Internet content and an ineffective answer to a complex social issue,” Senator Kate Lundy said today.

“This proposed ban is not a solution.

“The Government’s own inquiry into online gambling, Netbets, specifically ruled out a ban on Interactive gambling. Netbets concluded that:

From the evidence, it appears that a prohibition would be difficult and costly to implement, which potentially undermines its effectiveness as a policy option. (Netbets, p 65)

“The Productivity Commission report into gambling also expressed the following:

Prohibition often leads to the illegal and secretive supply of the prohibited goods by organised crime, with none of the safeguards for the consumer provided under a legal regime. (Australia’s Gambling Industries, Page 60)

“Senator Alston and the National Office of the Information Economy (NOIE) have spent the last six months constructing a report in which the findings are not consistent with the conclusions. The NOIE report acknowledges that a ban is not totally enforceable because it is not technically feasible and yet it recommends a ban.

“The report also notes that Australia will be exporting a product that is deemed unsuitable for its own citizens.

“This is not a debate about poker machines and it is irresponsible and misleading for the Minister to link this legislation with poker machines. As the NOIE report states, the beneficiaries of the legislation may well be terrestrial-based gambling products, such as poker machines.

“The Coalition’s use of emotive language about interactive gambling demonstrates that they are willing to manipulate and exploit people’s concerns about gambling generally.

“However, their proposed legislation fails any test of political and social responsibility by ignoring the real opportunities to provide meaningful solutions to interactive gambling concerns through strong national leadership in the Ministerial Council on Gambling.

“This forum has been all but ignored by Minister Alston and yet this forum has the capacity to agree on national standards for licensing and control of interactive gambling in Australia.

“This inconsistency is staggering and shows a Government in complete policy panic.

“Rather than an ineffective and therefore misleading ban on Interactive gambling, Labor proposed a range of principles and objectives to ensure consumer protection, parental and community education, harm minimisation and limitations that helped contain the social costs of gambling.

“In addition, the message the Coalition is sending to the world is that we are not an IT savvy nation, but an IT backwater banning and prohibiting content because the Government has no idea how to strategically and effectively implement a workable policy that protects those most at risk without incumbering Internet development,” Senator Lundy said.

44/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295

27 March 2001 - Media Release

Labor Welcomes Youth Roundtable 2001

The 2001 National Youth Roundtable will meet today for the first time this year.

During this inaugural meeting, members of the 2001 National Youth Roundtable will discuss the outline of their individual community action projects.

These projects will form the basis of their consultations with young people living in their local area. The youth delegates will report their findings at the second roundtable meeting in September.

The 2001 National Youth Roundtable topic groups include:

“I would like to congratulate every member of the 2001 National Youth Roundtable on behalf of the Federal Opposition for their commitment to youth policy development in Australia,” said the Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy.

“Labor is also hopeful that Minister Kemp makes good his commitment to the Roundtable: to treat the work of participants with respect and make himself accountable for the Youth Roundtable outcomes.

“The ALP wishes all members of the 2001 Youth Roundtable all the best for their participation in this year’s program and will look forward to listening to their presentations in September,” Senator Lundy concluded.

43/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 - 62773334 or 0418 488295

23 March 2001 - Media Release

Kelly mustn’t mess with the AIS

The Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, today called on Jackie Kelly to guarantee the long-term future of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra.

“The Minister’s decision to replace Mr John Boultbee as head of the AIS has once again fuelled speculation that the Coalition intends to decentralise the AIS and break-up what is our most successful sporting institution,” Senator Lundy said.

“Mr Boultbee is reported as saying that ‘the AIS is our trump card’ and ‘the backbone of Australia’s sporting success and needs to be funded and supported’.  I completely agree with these sentiments.

“The AIS and Mr Boultbee have done a fantastic job over the past five years and the results are conclusive: AIS athletes comprised over half of our Olympic team and past and present AIS scholarship holders accounted for 118 medals at the Sydney Olympics.

“Coalition funding cuts have already seen the AIS shed up to 50 staff and reduce the number of full-time residential athletes by 78.  Any further downgrading of the AIS may seriously diminish the magnificent achievements of the Sydney Olympics.

“Jackie Kelly has absolutely no idea about the future of Australian sport and her inability to produce strategic policies and any form of Ministerial leadership has created a vacuum which is being exploited by vested interests.

“It’s time for Ms Kelly to once and for all guarantee the future of the AIS and categorically rule out breaking-up or down-grading our centre for sporting excellence,” Senator Lundy said.

42/01.  Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

22 March 2001 - Media Release

Government decision to dump AIS head John Boultbee inexplicable

“John Boultbee has done a fantastic job as head of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Government’s decision not to re-appoint him is inexplicable”, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.

“The position of head of the AIS is supposed to be merit-based, so it is an absolutely outrageous that he has not been re-appointed, given that the AIS was the architect of our Olympic success,” Senator Lundy said.

“Under Mr Boultbee’s directorship of the AIS, Australia achieved its greatest ever success at an Olympic Games.

“It is absolutely disgraceful that this announcement has been made just prior to a much anticipated and long awaited announcement by the Coalition to restore sports funding to pre-Olympic levels.

“My comments are by no means a reflection on the new AIS head, Mr Michael Scott, however I believe that Mr Boultbee has been poorly treated.

“If this is Jackie Kelly’s way of saying ‘thank you’ to someone who have served Australian sport with their heart and soul, then it is Ms Kelly who should be replaced.

“I call on Mr Howard to reassess the decision to dump Mr Boultbee as Jackie Kelly has once again demonstrated that she is either incompetent or ill informed,” Senator Lundy said.

41/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

16 March 2001 - Media Release

Aussie IT companies miss out under Fahey's failed Outsourcing Program

Australian small business delivered yet another grave reproach to the Coalition Government at today’s IT Outsourcing Inquiry, Senator Kate Lundy, the Shadow Minister Assisting on IT, said today.

“The Canberra Business Council provided evidence that many IT businesses in the Australian Capital region believed they had been denied opportunities because of the centralised, clustering approach adopted by the Coalition Government,” Senator Lundy said.

"This evidence supports Labor's longstanding claim that the IT Outsourcing Program implemented by John Fahey favoured the IT industry's' 'big end of town' at the expense of local, innovative, small and medium-sized IT&T companies.

"Smaller businesses have clearly identified government contracts as a crucial export credential which assists them to expand business and secure new clients overseas. This point was stressed by Mr John Glenn, Principal for Strategic Development for the Sausage Group, who appeared as a witness at today’s inquiry.

"Despite the increasingly desperate crowing from Ministers Alston and Fahey, the industry development outcomes of their IT Outsourcing Program have failed to provide genuine opportunities for IT&T SME's to grow their businesses and expand their markets," Senator Lundy concluded.

40/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

16 March 2001 - Media Release

Desperate Libs fleece IT sector

According to a report in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, the Liberal Party has invited IT industry leaders to help formulate and develop the Liberal’s IT policy - for a fee of $7,500.

“The Liberal Party is offering members of its so-called IT and Communications forum ‘access’ to Senator Alston, the Minister for Information Technology, provided they pay the $7,500 joining fee,” Senator Lundy said.

“The Liberals are fleecing concerned and frustrated members of the IT & T industry by making them pay for access.

“This is a pathetic and desperate attempt to exploit the policy void that the Coalition has created.

“The Government is obviously so panicked that it is desperately trying to outsource their IT policies to the very industry that they have miserably failed.

“Just what Senator Alston has been doing for the past five years remains a mystery - but I guess that for $7,500 you could probably find out”, Senator Lundy said.

39/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

15 March 2001 - Media Release

IT Outsourcing multinationals make money by providing poor service

"Evidence given today to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee inquiry into the Government’s IT Outsourcing Program has revealed how multinationals make money by providing poor service to federal government agencies and departments," Senator Lundy said today.

“The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) gave evidence that it costs agencies and departments a fee every time an employee makes a call to a help desk. During times of system fault or failure, these calls to the help desk come thick and fast."

"This means that the more calls that are made to the help desk, the more fees the outsourcing companies get paid!

“This is another example of the negligent role OASITO has played in negotiating IT outsourcing contracts on behalf of agencies and departments.

“The CPSU also exposed a litany of problems experienced by public servants in departments and agencies that have been outsourced to external service providers (ESP).

“The CPSU told the Committee that there is a “negative incentive for [IT] users” to contact Help Desks and that public servants now seek IT savvy colleagues to assist them, rather than access the Help Desk.

“Furthermore, the CPSU stated that morale in the public sector has “plummeted” and was now “extremely low” as a result of the negative experiences with IT outsourcing.

“The evidence presented clearly demonstrates that the Government’s IT Outsourcing Program rewards bad service and poor service delivery,” Senator Lundy said.

38/01. . Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

13 March 2001 - Media Release

Internet Gambling ban highlights Coalition’s conflict of interest

The Federal Government’s pursuit of a total ban on Internet gambling has presented a major conflict of interest between for the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Senator Alston.

On the one hand, Senator Alston has been out there trying to tell the world that Australia is an IT savvy nation that understands Internet management and content issues and is capable of being a player in the new economy.

Yet on the other hand, Senator Alston is pursuing legislation that retards Internet growth and demonstrates the Government’s complete inability to understand and manage Internet content.

Senator Alston’s befuddled approach is to attempt to impose an unworkable and highly costly ban on Internet content, rather that pursue workable, coordinated legislation that provides consumer protection, education, harm minimisation and universal standards for operators.

Senator Alston knows that the costs of implementing and maintaining a technological ban on Internet gambling for Australian citizens are enormous and will in all likelihood be borne by ISPs, who will pass those costs on to consumers.

He also knows that making ISPs carry the costs of implementing a flawed Coalition policy will have an effect on their competitiveness and may send many of these small IT businesses to the wall.

Senator Alston is also aware that the Coalition’s stance on the Internet will unfavourably affect Australia’s position as a leading e-commerce nation.

Senator Alston is no doubt aware that a ban on controlled and regulated Internet gambling may lead to an increase in other forms of gambling, which the Coalition has argued is against the national interest.

Perhaps this is why Senator Alston is refusing to release the report by the National Office of the Information Economy (NOIE) into the feasibility of banning Internet gambling.

37/01.  Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

7 March 2001 - Media Release

Alston should check facts first

Senator Alston’s attack on my involvement with the Woden Tradesmens Union Club is wrong.

There is not, nor has there ever been, a conflict of interest over my association with the Woden Tradesmens Union Club.

I ceased being a Board member of Woden Tradesmens Union Club on 19 October 1999.

Unlike Peter McGauran, I received absolutely no personal benefit from my association with the Woden Tradesmens Union Club.

Furthermore, the Woden Tradesmens Union Club has no relationship with the Labor Clubs associated with the Labor Party.

Senator Alston is also wrong in his allegation that I received campaign funds from the Woden Tradesmens Union Club. In fact, I received no campaign funds from the Woden Tradesmens Union Club for the 1998 election.

Additionally, Labor’s stance against the Online Gambling (Moratorium) Bill would arguably have reduced poker machine takings. Mr McGauran’s personal interest in 70 poker machines meant that he would directly profit from any curtailment of online gambling.

36/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

7 March 2001 - Media Release

The Coalition is sending more young people into poverty

“Coalition Government policies are sending more and more young people into poverty and putting their futures at risk,” the Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, told the Senate this week.

“When you pull the employment figures apart it is clear that young people have missed out. Youth unemployment remains nearly four times higher than the rate for the general population.

“It is an outrage that 56,300 fewer full-time jobs exist now for 20-24 year olds than were held by people of this age group in 1995.

“The Government is sending mixed messages to young people on youth allowance who are trying to find work, by making the 50 per cent loss of income over the ‘free area limit’ ten percent higher than pensions.

“Another concern is the fact that the non-indexation of Youth Allowance on March 20 will mean those losing some rent assistance will suffer a cut to their total entitlement.

“The Federal Government’s Youth Allowance has meant that families unable to support their unemployed 16-17 year olds have been forced to support an ‘unreasonable to live at home’ application.

“Young people are also over-represented in Centrelink breach rates. Fines of $850 are common and can be actioned if a young person fails to make just one phone call.

“SAAP (Supported Accommodation Assistance Program) data indicates that the largest age group of those seeking help are those aged 15-19 years (22 per cent).

“The Coalition is then asking an under funded non-government sector to foot the bill when people inevitably fall into crisis.

“They have turned a blind eye to the needs of this group of Australians and again have shown themselves to be uncaring and out-of-touch.

“Young Australian’s deserve better.”

35/01.Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295

5 March 2001 - Media Release

Still waiting for PM’s sports funding announcement….

The Coalition Government has still not fulfilled a promise by the Prime Minister to restore funding cuts to elite sport, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Lundy, said today.

At a recent Senate estimates hearings, the Government refused to provide any details about when - and if - the Prime Minister’s promise to restore funding to Olympic sport will be delivered.

Mr Howard made the promise to Australia’s athletes during the Sydney Olympics, where he was under pressure to defend the Coalition’s massive cut to the sport budget and their refusal to continue the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP).

Labor introduced OAP in 1994 to provide $135 million for elite athlete training, sports science and medicine, research, elite coaching and expertise and athlete career and education programs. By contrast, the Coalition cut $16 million from sport in the last budget and allowed OAP to lapse.

“Australia’s National Sporting Organisations, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport were led to believe by the Prime Minister that a major announcement on sports funding would be made shortly after the Olympics were over,” Senator Lundy said.

“National Sporting Organisations are in funding limbo whilst they await an announcement.

“In the interests of Australia’s continued excellence in sport, I can only hope that Mr Howard responds to Labor’s repeated calls for the restoration of funding for our sporting programs.

“Sport does not deserve to become a victim of the Coalition’s policy panic,” Senator Lundy said.

34/01. Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 62773334 or 0418 488295

2 March 2001 - Media Release

Labor supports young people making noise!

noise, a national youth media-based arts festival to be held in October this year, has called for submissions from young people to contribute their creative works.

noise will showcase the creative work of young Australians aged 25 and under by using the Internet, TV, radio and print media to exhibit their creative works. This includes short films, video documentaries, video clips, music, graphic design, sound docos, web sites, animations, writing, photographs and comics.

The festival will take place entirely within the media - there will be no live events.

Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy said today, “The noise festival is a fantastic opportunity for young people to be creative, celebrate youth culture and showcase their talents to the rest of the community.”

“I encourage all young people to put in an entry and visit the noise website to find out about the new projects that will be announced over the coming months.

“I also strongly encourage all organisations, educational, youth arts, media centres etc, to get involved in the festival and encourage more young people to get involved and show off their creative talents,” Senator Lundy said.

To submit work to noise applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 25 or under at the time when your work was completed. Your work must be no more than two years old.

Further information can be found by logging onto the noise website www.noise.net.au.