Big Brother is Big Business for 15 Million Australians
The Government’s continued failure to implement private sector privacy
legislation will allow the consumer spending and credit card details of up to 15
million Australians to be accessed by any user, Senator Kate Lundy said today.
A data warehouse owned by PBL and US corporation Acxiom will, according to an
article in today’s Australian, contain personal information supplied by credit
institutions, retail outlets, electoral rolls and information about household
and motor vehicle purchases.
In Question Time today, Senators Lundy and Faulkner directly questioned the
Government about the privacy implications of the PBL-Acxiom data warehouse.
“This constitutes the most blatant declaration of intent to gather personal
information for commercial purposes this country has ever seen,” Senator Lundy
said.
“The PBL-Acxiom pronouncement about establishing a ‘giant warehouse of
all personal and financial information’ serves as a critical wake-up call for
a negligent Government that has failed to legislate to protect privacy of
personal information in the private sector.
“Effective sanctions for breaches of privacy are an essential part of the
legislative framework for the information age - and once again the Government
has been caught out seemingly in active collaboration with private interests to
allow manipulation of personal information.
The use of the electoral roll as a source of data is a breach of Section 91
(b) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, which deals with ‘the prohibition
of disclosure or commercial use of the Roll or habitation index’.
“The Government is allowing big brother to keep tabs on us through our
credit cards and consumer spending - only this time big brother is big business.”
“The Opposition has called for an inquiry into the use of the electoral
roll and called on the Government to implement private sector privacy
legislation as promised,” Senator Lundy said.
102/99 Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
White Paper a wasted exercise unless it addresses sport and
recreation needs of all Australians
The Government’s White Paper into the future of sport will be a wasted
exercise unless it addresses the sporting and recreational needs of all
Australians, Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
The White Paper, commissioned by the Minister in June, was due to be released
in early October. However it has been delayed amid speculation that it makes
recommendations at odds with Government policy.
“The delay has fuelled suspicion that the Government is planning to cut
federal funding to Australian sport and make changes to ASDA, Senator Lundy
said.
Any changes to ASDA that threaten its independence and ability to operate
at arm’s length from the Australian Sports Commission would be disastrous
and devalue Olympic drug testing programs. ASDA must be entrenched as a
totally independent world-class drug-testing agency.
The Australian Institute of Sport is already cutting Olympic sports from
their program because of a forecasted diminution of Commonwealth funding. For
example gymnastics, volleyball, diving, canoeing, kayaking, squash and water
polo are earmarked for axing from the AIS because of projected funding
cutbacks.
There is concern the States’ ambition for greater control of sport will
provide the Federal Government with a convenient excuse for further cutbacks.
The decision to cut the Olympic Athlete Program post-Olympics has created a
dire situation. All eyes will now be on the Minister to see to see what degree
of support Olympic sports will have in the lead up to Athens 2004.
“Minister Kelly’s intention to wind back funding to sport after the 2000
Olympics is a short sighted and ill-conceived policy resulting in a
roller-coaster funding ride, rather than consistent and continuous funding of
sport.
“Funding must be balanced to ensure that the Australian Sports Commission
and non-government organisations equally benefit from the Olympic legacy. Under
the Coalition, the funding of elite and community-based sport has not been
balanced and too many Australians are missing out on the opportunity to
participate in sport and recreation activities.
“The Labor Party left the Coalition with a world-class sporting
infrastructure which they should build on, not diminish with a thousand cuts, as
is the typical Liberal style.
101/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Urgent intervention required to enforce Industry Development
commitments of IT outsourcing contracts
Despite the Government’s rhetoric about supporting Australian IT companies, there
is now proof that the IT outsourcing program as it is currently structured allows
Australian sub-contractors to be abused by IT vendors seeking to reduce costs, Senator
Kate Lundy said today.
During senate question time, Senator Lundy asked Minister Alston why Wizard Computer
Training, a local Australian company, has been shut out by Advantra in the Group 5
contract despite their presence as an Australian partner having helped Advantra satisfy
Industry Development requirements.
“It seems Advantra waited until after their successful bid for Group 5 was
announced before they delivered an ultimatum to Wizard Computer Training to accept a lower
price or else lose their contract.
“Wizard Computer Training entered into partnership with Advantra in good faith,
but have been subject to an appalling abuse of process, with Advantra having now employed
their own contractors at Wizard Computer Training’s expense.
“The Industry Development aspects of the IT outsourcing program is the
responsibility of Senator Alston, who has so far failed to support Wizard Computer
Training in the face of what appears to be a clear breach of the Industry Development
requirements of the Group 5 contract.
“Now is the chance for Minister Alston to demonstrate his support for Australian
IT companies, enforce the Industry Development contractual commitments and insist Advantra
reinstate Wizard Computer Training under the original terms.
“The Government’s rhetoric about ‘building our IT strengths’, which
Senator Ellison parroted in question time yesterday, is without substance or credibility.
“The credibility of the IT outsourcing program has plummeted as evidence about
lack of savings, failure to achieve service level agreements, and marginalisation of local
companies is growing”, Senator Lundy said.
101/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Parliament goes live on the Internet
In a groundbreaking move, the Australian Parliament was broadcast live on the Internet
for the first time yesterday.
Proceedings from the House of Representatives, the Senate and Main Committees of the
House of Representatives will be available live via Internet broadcasts.
Previously only text information about the Parliament and Hansard transcripts was
available on the Internet.
This year, the Parliamentary web site has averaged over one million ‘hits’
per month. Live webcasting of both Chambers should encourage even greater interest in the
operations and proceedings of the Federal Parliament.
“Around the world technological advances in using the Internet to improve
democratic process are being explored, Senator Lundy said
“Making Parliament more accessible is a great achievement however unless all
Australians have access to the Internet it is only serving a minority of citizens.
Live Internet broadcasts of Parliament can be accessed at: www.aph.gov.au
100/99.Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
Audit Office steps in as credibility of the IT Outsourcing Program
plummets
The Australian National Audit Office has embarked on four joint performance and
financial audits of Information Technology in and across federal government agencies as
the credibility of the IT Outsourcing Program continues to plummet, Senator Lundy, Shadow
Minister Assisting on Information Technology said today.
Cluster 3 (CSC), Group 5 (Advantra) and the Australian Tax Office (EDS) will all be
subject to an audit, with findings due mid to late next year.
The terms of reference are wide ranging, with objectives including:
“These audits follow emerging evidence that IT outsourcing contracts are not
achieving the savings promised by the Government or the quality of service required by the
government agencies, Senator Lundy said.
“The Government has arrogantly and inaccurately claimed that $160 million in
savings has already been achieved. This is not true.
“Both the Cluster 3 and ATO contracts required the respective agencies to deliver
the so-called ‘savings’ incrementally to Government through a budget cut of $10
and $20 million per annum respectively over the next five years.
“The Group 5 contract awarded to Telstra/IBM/Lend Lease hybrid Advantra, did not
include a reduction in the budget allocation specifically attributable to the IT
Outsourcing Program, according to evidence from the last round of Senate estimates.
“This inconsistency further reduces the credibility of the program, particularly
since the Telstra/IBM/Lend Lease hybrid IBM GSA was awarded the contract for the
Department of Finances’ own IT before the IT outsourcing program was implemented,
thereby avoiding scrutiny through the program.
“The nominated $10 million worth of savings need only be found within the Group 5
agencies, with no ‘payback’ through a reduced budget allocation, as was the case
in the other two contracts.
“There will also be a fourth audit of contract management practices of the IT
Outsourcing Program. This audit is also for both the performance and financial aspects and
will assess the adequacy of contracts in achieving service requirements of the government.
“There is around $4.2 billion worth of federal IT outsourcing, with the Government
originally claiming $1 billion worth of savings. This has been revised downward
consistently. Evidence to date shows the longest standing contract Cluster 3 actually
costing more.” Senator Lundy said.
98/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
ACT loses jobs because of Howard’s GST deal
The ACT is set to lose up to 30 jobs because the Federal Government is moving the
Australian Passport Information Service (APIS) call centre from Canberra to Tasmania, ACT
Senator Kate Lundy said today.
Telstra operates the Australian Passport Information Service call centre at Barton for
the Department of Foreign Affairs. It has been successfully operating in Canberra for 12
years and there has not been a single complaint during this time.
“It seems that to win over the vote of Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine, the
Government agreed to move the call centre from the ACT to Tasmania, Senator Lundy said.
“This will mean at least 30 jobs will be lost to facilitate Mr Howard’s GST
deal.
“The ACT is a prime location for call centre operations. We are the most computer
literate city in Australia; we have a large multicultural population, which is important
for a Passport call centre, and a workforce that is highly skilled.
“Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer is trying to cover up a politically
motivated deal by claiming that the call centre is being moved because of high staff
turnover. However staff turnover at the call centre increased only after they were told
the centre was being shifted to Tasmania.
“Telstra have confirmed that staff turnover at the APIS is lower than average for
a call centre.
“Once again, Canberra is made to suffer because of a Howard Government decision.
“It’s time the Prime Minister stopped stripping jobs from our region”,
Senator Lundy said.
96/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6230 0411 or 0418 488295
Sport stars say Yes to Republic
Australia’s leading sportspeople are supporting the Yes campaign because they want
to represent an independent nation that can proudly stand on its own feet, Senator Kate
Lundy said at the launch of Rowing for the Republic in Canberra today.
Senator Lundy, Shadow Attorney General Robert McClelland and Robert de Castella were
joined by elite rowers Kate Slatter, Adair Ferguson, Rachael Taylor and members of the
Atlanta Women’s Eight as they rowed across Lake Burley Griffin to promote the Yes
campaign.
"Many of our top athletes are saying ‘Yes’ on November 6 because they
want to represent the Republic of Australia with our own Head of State, Senator Lundy
said.
"When we become a Republic, Australia will still be part of the Commonwealth and
we will still participate in the Commonwealth Games. The only difference will be that an
Australian Head of State will be leading the cheer squad.
"The British monarch does not barrack for Australia at the Commonwealth and
Olympic Games and nor should they. The Queen of England and her heirs, quite rightly,
support British athletes.
"When Sydney bid for the 2000 Olympics, our current Head of State supported
Manchester’s bid over Sydney’s. This was appropriate because the British
monarchy places British interests first.
"The British monarchy will not be cheering for Australian athletes at the Sydney
Games – they will be hoping for British success. That is one reason why we need an
Australian Head of State", Senator Lundy said.
The list of high profile athletes supporting the Yes campaign include:
Eddie McGuire, John Eales, Shane Warne, Rob de Castella, Kathy Freeman, Kate Slatter,
Dawn Fraser, Craig Parry, Wally Lewis, Andrew Gaze, Suzie Maroney, Zoe Goss, Ian
Baker-Finch, Ron Barassi and Bradley Clyde.
94/99. Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6230 0411 or 0418 488295
Olympic opening highlights hypocrisy of No case
The Prime Minister’s decision to open the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, rather than
our current Head of State, highlights the hypocrisy of the No case, Shadow Minister for
Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
Reiterating the call for Australia’s Head of State to officially open the Games as
the Olympic charter requires, Senator Lundy said Mr Howard’s stance on the Olympics
is hypocritical given his staunch support for the British monarchy.
“John Howard and his fellow monarchists can’t have it both ways. They claim
that the Governor General is our Head of State and therefore Sir William Deane should be
opening the Olympic Games, not the Prime Minister, Senator Lundy said.
“The monarchists have been running around telling everyone that we have an
Australian Head of State in the Governor General, in which case he should officiate at the
opening of the Olympics.
“Tony Abbott, who is rumoured to be taking over as Minister for Sport later this
year, should be telling Mr Howard that it is inappropriate for him to open the Games if
the Governor General is in fact our Head of State.
“The monarchist campaign has been characterised by lies and misinformation and the
fact that John Howard wants to open the Olympics highlights the hypocrisy in the
monarchists argument about who is our Head of State.
“It would be wonderful for Australia’s first President to open the 2000
Olympics and show the world that we are an independent nation, not one whose Head of State
is a hereditary British monarch”, Senator Lundy said.
93/99.Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6230 0411 or 0418 488295
