31 October 2006 - Media Release

Canberra Restaurants Banned From Sponsoring Skilled Migrants

Four Canberra restaurants have been banned from sponsoring temporary skilled migrants for up to three years, DIMA told a Senate Estimates Committee yesterday.

Senate Estimates was told that Pangaea Restaurant and Bar, Zeffirelli Pizza Restaurant and Holy Grail have been banned from the 457 visa program for three years from 6 October 2006. Milk and Honey received a two year ban from 11 May 2006, the Committee was told.

The restaurants were found to be underpaying skilled migrant workers employed under the 457 visa program, with the first allegation being made in October last year. That means for one of the restaurants, it took DIMA 12 months to apply the sanction.

The temporary skilled migration program should serve a practical need to fill genuine skills shortages. However, the Howard Government's gross mismanagement of the program has allowed migrants to be exploited and the program used to push wages down.

Labor has called for a Senate Inquiry into the 457 visa program but this was blocked by the Howard Government.

Unfortunately, this means this arrogant government is willing to allow skilled migrants to be ripped off and this in turn pushes the wages of all workers down.

Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295

31 October 2006 - Media Release

Kids still sitting on the sideline

There are up to 28,000 children still missing out on the Australian Sports Commissions Active After School Communities Program (AASC) the Environment, Communication, IT and the Arts Committee heard this morning.

The committee heard that the program is failing to meet genuine interest from 575 schools around the country.

This has so far been the Government’s only answer to addressing childhood obesity. The Government needs to make a real commitment to this program to ensure that all Aussie kids get the opportunity to participate.

Lack of physical activity is a major contributing factor to obesity and ill health among Australians. An Access Economics report released earlier this month suggests that by 2025, 7.2 million Australians will be obese. The report suggests that the direct cost of obesity last year was $21 billion.

Full and proper commitment to the AASC program is a small price for this Government to pay to address an issue that is costing Australians billions.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334

16 October 2006 - Media Release

Australia wins netball series for first time in five years!

Labor congratulates the Australian netball team who in thrilling style won the decider of a three game test series in New Zealand tonight.

Thanks to rescheduling by the ABC, Australian supporters on the east coast were able to experience the tension and excitement of the game live.

Australia has not beaten the Silver Ferns in a test series for five years. The win places the team in good stead for the World Championships next year.

We hope the live broadcast of big netball games will become a regular feature in Australian broadcasting. It is rare that Australians get to watch our best netballers live on free to air television – it is a fantastic step forward in women's sport. 

It will be interesting to see how this test series rated for the ABC, particularly since there was not much opportunity for pre-match promotion. It was good to see so many Australian news services carrying pictures and stories about the exciting test series.

Netball, particularly tests, rates very strongly on New Zealand TV, so we know there is greater commercial potential for more and better netball coverage in Australia.

For those who missed the match, the ABC will also replay the match later tonight at 11:40pm.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334

16 October 2006 - Media Release

Netball series decider broadcast live tonight!

Labor wishes the Australian netball team the best of luck tonight in the series decider against the Silver Ferns in New Zealand.

The ABC's decision to reschedule and bring the game to Australians live (AEST) at 4:30pm today is to be applauded. It is rare that Australians get to watch our best netballers live on free to air television – it is a fantastic step forward in women's sport. 

With the series one game apiece, the decider is building as a thriller and it is terrific that many Australians will now be able to share in the excitement of the game with the live broadcast.

The ABC will also replay the match later tonight at 11:40pm.

In New Zealand the broadcast of live netball is a no-brainer for television networks. Big games and test matches can expect up to two thirds of the New Zealand audience share during prime time viewing hours. These massive ratings are testimony to the popularity of live netball tests when produced and promoted well by television networks.

The fact still remains that the live broadcast of women's sport should not be a last minute decision. The recent Senate inquiry report About time! Women in sport and recreation in Australia recommended that the Government invests up to $9 million over three years to support initiatives to get more top level Australian women's sport on TV at accessible times.

Australian sport and Australian sport fans are still waiting for a response from the Howard Government to the 18 recommendations in the report.

I again call on the Prime Minister and Minister Kemp to formally respond to the bipartisan report by supporting all of the recommendations so that more Australians can share in the success of our fantastic women's sporting teams.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334

12 October 2006 - Media Release

We want more netball on TV!

Labor wishes the Australian netball team the best of luck tonight as they take on arch rivals New Zealand in Wellington. The game is the first of a three match test series across the Tasman. The last test series was played in Australia with each team winning a match.

I wish we could see more of this fantastic team on television – fans in Australia will have to wait until 11:40pm tonight to see their heroes take the court on the ABC.

The ABC has tagged it as 'must see TV' however put it out of reach of most audiences, particularly children.

The test will be broadcast live throughout New Zealand where it can expect up to two thirds of the audience share. These massive ratings are testimony to the popularity of live Netball tests when produced and promoted well by televisions networks.

I congratulate the ABC for their efforts bringing one of the remaining three matches live to Australian families at 4.30pm this Saturday.

I am amazed that the commercial networks haven't seized the opportunity to get some of the world's best sportswomen on prime time TV. Examples are the Australian/New Zealand Netball Tests, the Opals winning the World Championship, the Hockeyroos great come back to claim silver at their World Cup and the Matildas earlier in the year as they played thrilling world cup qualifying matches in Adelaide!

The Senate inquiry report About time! Women in sport and recreation in Australia recommended that the Government invests up to $9 million over three years to support initiatives that get more top level Australian women's sport on TV at accessible times.

Australian sport and Australian sport fans are still waiting for a response from the Howard Government to the 18 recommendations in the report. I call on the Howard Government to formally respond to the bipartisan report by supporting all of the recommendations so more Australians can share in the success of our fantastic women's sporting teams.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334

9 October 2006 - Joint Media Release

ARE YOU ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL?: More than 10,000 Canberra votes at risk

ACT Senator Kate Lundy,  Bob McMullan: Member for Fraser, Annette Ellis: Member for Canberra

Senator Kate Lundy together with Bob McMullan, Member for Fraser, and Annette Ellis, Member for Canberra, have today launched a campaign to make sure Canberrans are correctly enrolled on the ACT electoral roll before changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act commence on December 11. Under the new rules, in the 2004 election 10359 electors could have lost their right to vote in the electorates of Canberra and Fraser.

As Australia does not have fixed date elections at the federal level, the Prime Minister is able to call an election without any warning. This uncertainty makes the closing date of the electoral roll a critical issue.

Senator Lundy said that traditionally electors have had a full week after the announcement of an election in which they can enrol or change their details. The Australian Electoral Commission has always used this week to run high profile campaigns informing the public of the looming deadline.

Annette Ellis, Member for Canberra, said that during the first week of the 2004 campaign the AEC Australia wide received 80,000 new enrolments and 350,000 changes to details. Under the changed rules new electors will only have until 8pm on the day the writs are issued to apply and those seeking to change their details will only have three days. The changes also include new, more stringent proof of identity requirements which could make it more difficult for those who are new to an area to verify their enrolment.

Bob McMullan, Member for Fraser, said that in his electorate alone there were 1162 new enrolments in the first week of the 2004 campaign, and 4868 changes of details. Under the new rules, 6030 people in the electorate of Fraser could have lost their opportunity to vote in the last election. The figures are similar for Canberra where 1117 new electors went on the roll in the week before the rolls closed and there were 4239 total transactions.

All three federal members are concerned about the impact of the changes, especially on young people. Most of the new enrolments were young people; in fact of the new enrolments in both Canberra electorates only 153 were over 24 years old. “Together with concerned ALP members we will be holding shopping centre stalls all over the ACT in the next two months to encourage people to get on the roll and to update their details before the rules change,” said the three members.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334