|
|
|
|
 |
$821.12 for a $357 scanner/printer/fax/copier |
|
$163.40 for a $31 ergonomic keyboard |
|
$172.45 for a $69 sound card |
|
$460.65 for a $300 15-inch monitor. |
These are just a few on-the-ground examples of the outrageous overcharging practices identified by the Auditor-General as being rife throughout the Howard Government’s failed IT Outsourcing program.
“The Tax Office originally claimed that they would save $100 million as a result of outsourcing their IT functions to EDS, however the Auditor General revealed that this figure was grossly overstated,” Senator Lundy said.
“These revelations beg the question: what other overcharging is taking place?
“It appears that the ATO has been ‘captured’ by their outsourcing contractor and forced to pay over market price for basic office IT.
“It is no wonder the Howard Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent the disclosure of contract details.
“We now know what the Howard Government has been trying to hide.”
97/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), which is rated as the second best women's basketball competition in the world behind the American WNBL, is in imminent danger of being cancelled because of the demise of Ansett Airlines.
A meeting of Basketball Australia is being held tomorrow to decide whether the WNBL season, which commences in early October, will be able to proceed.
Ansett Airlines was the principle sponsor of most Australian sport, including basketball, and its collapse has created a major crisis in Australian sport.
The biggest problem confronting the WNBL is the inability to secure seats on flights.
If the WNBL goes under, the impact will be devastating.
The 2001 WNBL season is shaping up to be their best ever, given the spectacular success of many of our female basketball stars in the American league.
I call on Sports Minister Jackie Kelly today - not tomorrow when it may be too late - but today, to do what is necessary to guarantee the continuation of the 2001-02 WNBL season.
If Minister Kelly fails to act and the WNBL falls over, then the Minister will bear the responsibility.
96/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
Jackie Kelly’s failure to address the impact the demise of Ansett Airlines is having on Australian sport is totally unacceptable, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Lundy, said today.
“Ms Kelly’s silence is demonstrating contempt given the grave concern expressed by the many sports and sporting organisations reliant on Ansett sponsorship or ‘in kind’ deals,” Senator Lundy said.
“Ansett Airlines was the major sponsor of Australian sport, and there are thousands of jobs under threat. This is a disgrace and Labor calls on the Howard Government to guarantee the job security of those involved in sporting competitions sponsored by Ansett Airlines.
“Despite the ever increasing stories of sporting teams and sporting competitions facing financial hardship, Minister Kelly hasn’t even issued a single press releases or statement of support assuring the sporting community that their anxiety over the loss of their major sponsor is being addressed.
Ansett’s demise is causing increasing problems for Australian sport:
Sports Industry Australia has called for a rescue package as a result of Ansett’s collapse. CEO Scott Derwin described Ansett’s loss as a “crisis situation [with] absolutely disastrous consequences.”
The Australian Football League (AFL) recently signed a long-term contract with Ansett and has sponsorship worth several million dollars. The AFL is considering scrapping their pre-season Ansett Cup fixtures. AFL Travel has reportedly sold up to 1000 travel-and-accommodation packages for the Brisbane v Essendon grand final. AFL Travel managing director Peter Fielding said his staff were trying to 'sort out this mess. It is not a matter of cost or price - there are just no more seats on the existing aircraft'.
Ansett had a five-year sponsorship deal with the Australian Cricket Board worth an estimated $6 million, and was the major sponsor of the summer Test cricket series. The Australian Institute of Sport development side has abandoned its vital warm-up fixtures due to the demise of Ansett and the Cricket board are reported to be considering chartering their own planes to guarantee the safe transport of players.
Rugby League has a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Ansett running until the end of the 2003 season. Ansett sponsor the Brisbane Broncos and has other arrangements with the Melbourne Storm, Parramatta Eels, the Sharks and the Canberra raiders.
Ansett was the major sponsor of Basketball: the NBL and WNBL. The pre-season Blitz tournament in Queensland beginning next month is under threat and already the National Championships in Bendigo has been cancelled.
Netball: Ansett was the official airline of Netball Australia and supplied discount airfares to ensure the viability of the national netball competition.
Netball Australia announced that their championship series, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from 1 - 6 October, has been cancelled because Netball Australia has not been able to arrange air flights for the officials, umpires and members of the 16 teams involved. The last time Netball Australia cancelled their National Championships was in 1937 (because of the polio epidemic) and during World War II.
Hockey: Hockey Australia had just begun a five-year deal with Ansett worth an estimated $500,000. Already the Junior World Cup in Hobart starting in October has been disrupted, with Australia’s number one ranked junior men’s hockey team having to travel for three days from Perth by train in order to defend their world title.
95/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
Answers provided to questions put by Senator Lundy during Senate Estimates reveal that the Howard Government has slashed well over $3 million from community sport.
Earlier this year, the Coalition axed the popular Sport and Recreation Development Grants Program. According to answers supplied by Mr Mark Peters, CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, these cuts were the result of “a shift in government policy.”
“The so-called ‘shift’ by Sports Minister Jackie Kelly has cost community sport over $3 million in much needed funding,” said the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Lundy.
“The Australian Sports Commission confirmed, in its answer, that “the aim of the [Sport and Recreation Development Grants Program] was to build the capacity and capability of sporting clubs and organisations, schools and local councils to provide better sporting opportunities.”
“Jackie Kelly must offer an explanation to sporting clubs, schools and local councils as to how the slashing over $3 million in funding could possibly deliver better sporting opportunities at the community and grassroots level.
“The Minister has absolutely no idea how essential this funding is to Regional Sports Assemblies and local sporting organisations. Her inability to provide leadership and direction to the sporting sector is creating anxiety and turmoil within our sporting community.
“If Jackie Kelly is unable to do her job properly then Mr Howard should find someone who can,” Senator Lundy said.
In 2000/01, funding to State and Territory Departments of Sport and Recreation under the Grants Program was as follows:
|
New South Wales |
$800,000 |
|
Victoria |
$750,000 |
|
Queensland |
$450,000 |
|
South Australia |
$320,000 |
|
Western Australia |
$310,000 |
|
Tasmania |
$230,000 |
|
Northern Territory |
$185,000 |
|
Australian Capital Territory |
$140,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$3,185,000 |
94/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
ACT Senator Kate Lundy and Senate running mate Mr Robin Poke have welcomed the ABC launch of its dedicated local television news service in Canberra, which begins at 7 pm tonight.
“The ABC has demonstrated its commitment to Canberra and the ACT region,” Senator Lundy said.
“The ABC’s $7 million investment in facilities and building works and the addition of many new staff is a terrific boost for Canberra. The 7 pm ABC National News bulletin, to be produced here in Canberra and broadcast Monday to Friday nights, will feature stories, issues and events from Canberra and the local region.
“Finally, Canberra will have an ABC television news bulletin that is specifically aimed at covering proceedings and happenings important to our community.
“The National Capital and its regions have always warranted a specific television news service and I congratulate the ABC for delivering this to Canberra.
“I look forward to being involved with the ABC’s excellent team of reporters, producers, camera, sound and studio technicians.
“I congratulate the ABC for investing in the National Capital and for increasing media diversity by providing a national television news service from Canberra,” Senator Lundy said.
Senator Lundy was joined in welcoming the return of the ABC television service by Senate running mate Robin Poke, himself a former ABC journalist.
“I am so pleased that at long last we shall be able to enjoy on the ABC-TV news stories that are truly local rather than Sydney-orientated," Mr Poke said.
Mr Poke added that the decision taken by the ABC reflects Labor policy.
"This recognises that the ABC is a cultural institution contributing to our sense of national identity," he said. "By definition, that includes local identity and local content."
Mr Poke said he also looked forward to a federal Labor government meeting its promise to the ABC to provide adequate funding on a triennial basis to ensure such quality is maintained.
93/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
The Federal Labor Party is urging all young people to update their electoral enrolment details now due to new enrolment procedures tabled in Parliament last Thursday.
“Just weeks out from a Federal election, the Coalition has changed the electoral enrolment system by bringing in stringent new witnessing and identification requirements that will make it even harder for young people to enrol to vote,” Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“These new regulations have implications for first-time voters and young people needing to transfer a previous enrolment to a new address. Under the new regulations a person applying for a new enrolment or transfer of enrolment will have to find a witness from a number of prescribed employment categories, such as a public servant, nurse or real estate agent. New enrolees will also have to show the witness a prescribed original form of ID.
“The changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act regarding enrolment witnessing went through Parliament in early 1999, but the Federal Government has waited until just before the Federal election to bring in their complex changes which discriminate against young people.
“The independent Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says these changes will not improve the security of the Roll as the AEC has no way of checking that the witness falls into one of the set classes of witnesses or whether the witness actually sighted the ID or if the ID was genuine.
“While the ALP supports measures that will improve the security and integrity of the Roll, such as greater cross-checking of enrolments and increased fines for false enrolment and false witnessing, the Coalition has deliberately ignored sensible alternative approaches from both the AEC and the States.
“Traditionally, many young people wait until an election is called to enrol and update their address details. If they do so for this election, they could lose their opportunity to cast their vote, which is why it is imperative young people act now. The timing of these changes, just weeks out from a Federal election, is yet another concrete example of the Coalition restricting the ability of young people to be heard, despite their lip service and fuzzy rhetoric.
“These new enrolment procedures have been on the drawing board for over 2 years and the Coalition clearly believes it will get a political advantage from the last-minute confusion.
“Young Australians can ensure their electoral enrolment or transfer is as simple as possible by enrolling now,” Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
Enrolment forms can be obtained at Post Offices or at http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/form.htm. The existing enrolment forms are valid until the new enrolment procedures become effective, which is expected to be from 2 October 2001.
92/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 62773334 or 0418 488295
“The looming sponsorship and travel crisis confronting Australian sport following the demise of Ansett Airlines appears to be no more than a ‘blip’ on Jackie Kelly’s radar,” the Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Lundy, said today.
Ansett Airlines were the major sponsor of sport in Australia. Ansett provided direct or ‘in kind’ sponsorship to many sports, including netball, basketball, Australian Rules, Rugby League, hockey, golf as well as the Australian Olympic Committee, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Masters Games.
As a result of Ansett’s demise, the AFL has already moved to cut their home and away schedule, Netball Australia has cancelled their National Championships for the first time since World War II and Hockey Australia is reportedly facing a loss of $500,000 in sponsorship from Ansett.
“As sporting competitions collapse and teams are left stranded by the demise of Ansett Airlines, Jackie Kelly is treating this crisis as nothing more than a ‘blip’, Senator Lundy said.
“The Minister’s complete abrogation of her portfolio responsibilities is unparalleled. Ms Kelly’s office is reported as saying yesterday that:
“If need be, she will convene a meeting of state and territory sports ministers to consider all options.”
“If Jackie Kelly doesn’t realise that there is an urgent need to address the crisis in Australian sport then she should step aside for someone who does know what’s going on,” Senator Lundy said.
91/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, has praised the efforts of the 2001 National Youth Roundtable participants in presenting their insights into issues facing young Australians and putting forward their recommendations to government.
This week the National Youth Roundtable members presented the findings of their individual projects based on consultations with young people from their local community.
These presentations raised a variety of diverse issues facing Australian young people and a range of possible solutions such as:
|
The provision of greater entertainment opportunities for young people as a crime prevention strategy and post-release programs for juveniles in custody; |
|
Lifeskills programs in schools and greater involvement of community and youth organisations in schools; |
|
Culturally appropriate healthcare services and teenage parenting programs; |
|
Greater public awareness of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the need for youth specific phone counselling services; |
|
Greater access to youth specific information on drugs in schools and the use of drug abuse survivors in drug education programs; and |
|
Sustainable and commercial utilisation of Australia’s flora and fauna. |
“The recommendations put forward identify the challenges and hardships confronting many young Australians,” Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“Many of these recommendations reflect the Opposition’s call for the Coalition to stop neglecting young people, particularly young people in regional and rural areas and indigenous young Australians.
“On behalf of my Caucus colleagues I would like to congratulate each member of the 2001 National Youth Roundtable on their participation.
“I have received positive feedback from many Labor members who attended presentation sessions and met informally with Roundtable members during scheduled meal breaks.
“It is important to note that Labor formally approached the Minister to allow meetings to be held between Roundtable members and the Labor Shadow Ministry. This request was ignored again.
“I hope the opinions and views of the 2001 National Youth Roundtable members are listened to and treated with the respect they deserve.
“I wish all these young Australians the best in their future endeavours and urge the Minister to formally consider all the outcomes put forward by the 2001 Roundtable members,” Senator Lundy concluded.
90/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488295
The Australian national netball championships have been cancelled because of the demise of Ansett Airlines, yet the Minister for Sport, Jackie Kelly, still refuses to address the pending crisis in Australian sport.
Netball Australia announced this afternoon that their championship series, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from 1 - 6 October, has been cancelled because Netball Australia has not been able to arrange air flights for the officials, umpires and members of the 16 teams involved.
The last time Netball Australia cancelled their National Championships was in 1937 (because of the polio epidemic) and during World War II.
“The Minister for Sport, Jackie Kelly, is refusing to even acknowledge the potential crisis following the collapse of Ansett, the major sponsor of sport in Australia,” said Senator Lundy, the Shadow Minister for Sport.
“I have repeatedly called on Minister Kelly to spell out what action she is taking to assist the many sporting teams and competitions under threat.
“Minister Kelly has done absolutely nothing - no press releases, no statements of action, no guarantees that domestic sport in Australia will not be assisted in their time of crisis.
“Either Jackie Kelly faces up to her Ministerial responsibilities or the Prime Minister should find a Minister for Sport who can do the job,” Senator Lundy said.
89/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
The Minister Sport, Jackie Kelly, has failed to acknowledge or address the looming sponsorship crisis in Australian sport following the demise of Ansett Airlines.
The downfall of Ansett Airlines has major implications for Australian sport, which relies heavily on Ansett sponsorship and support, yet Minister Kelly has said absolutely nothing about what she is doing to protect our sporting industry and sporting competitions.
This is the most serious issue confronting sport in Australia and it demands action from the Minister responsible. Yet all the sporting sector has heard is a deafening silence.
Minister Kelly has clearly washed her hands in respect to assisting the many sporting teams and competitions reliant on sponsorship or ‘in kind’ deals from Ansett Airlines.
Ansett Airlines was a major sponsor of Australian sport, including:
|
AFL: Ansett recently signed a long-term contract with the AFL and has sponsorship worth several million dollars. |
|
Rugby League: The NRL has a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal running until the end of the 2003 season. Ansett sponsor the Brisbane Broncos and has other arrangements with the Melbourne Storm, Parramatta Eels, the Sharks and the Canberra raiders. |
|
Cricket: Ansett had a five-year sponsorship deal with the Australian Cricket Board worth an estimated $6 million and was the major sponsor of the summer Test cricket series. |
|
Basketball: Ansett was the major sponsor of the NBL and WNBL. The pre-season Blitz tournament in Queensland beginning next month is under threat and already the National Championships in Bendigo has been cancelled. |
|
Netball: Ansett was the official airline of Netball Australia and supplied discount airfares to ensure the viability of the national netball competition. |
|
Golf: Ansett was the official carrier for the Australian PGA Tour. |
|
Hockey: Hockey Australia had just begun a five-year deal with Ansett and the Junior World Cup in Hobart starting in October may be affected. |
88/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
ONE STANDARD FOR JOHN HOWARD’S BROTHER, ANOTHER FOR THE REST
Prime Minister John Howard and Transport Minister John Anderson are refusing to guarantee the full entitlements of Ansett employees and employees of firms affected by the collapse.
Thousands of jobs have been lost in Canberra as a result of cuts already inflicted on the region by the Howard Government over the last six years.
The collapse of Ansett is having a significant impact on Ansett workers and the Canberra region.
John Howard knew of this impending disaster, but did nothing to protect the security of tens of thousands of workers’ jobs. Many of these workers have been with Ansett for decades and have now been abandoned by the Government.
John Howard and John Anderson still refuse to protect 100 per cent of the hard-earned workers.
John Howard personally intervened, using the Regional Assistance Program, to ensure that his brother’s workers all received their full entitlements.
Why aren’t Ansett workers getting the same deal?
I call on ACT Liberal Senator, Margaret Reid to stand up for the workers of Canberra and support Labor’s demand that John Howard and John Anderson protect the full entitlements of former Ansett employees and all Australian workers.
86/01 Media contacts:
Office of Senator Kate Lundy: Verity Newnham, (02) 6277
3334 or 0419 474 588
Office of Bob McMullan MP: Tim Benson, (02) 6277 4803 or
0402 90 0402
Office of Annette Ellis MP: Jason Aitchison, (02) 6277 4372
or 0407 250 476
“The launch of Minister Kemp’s latest discussion paper on youth affairs is yet another example of the Minister delivering documents - but not dollars - in a last minute election scramble,” the Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
“This week’s launch of the Ausyouth Good Practice in Youth Development: A Framework of Principles, is certainly a step in the right direction.
“Minister Kemp has a track record of delivering reports and setting-up taskforces to cover-up his policy failures.
“Like the Prime Minister’s Youth Pathways Action Plan Taskforce report: Footprints to the Future, the Ausyouth report has been a long time coming and young Australians and the youth sector are still left waiting for the Minister to take the next step.
“Serving up a major youth development report a few months after delivering the budget and a few months before an election is just not good enough.
“Without delivering any dollars, it is hard not to view Minister Kemp’s latest discussion paper as a cynical pitch for credibility just a few months out from a federal election.
“This document provides a practical framework which aims to support the personal and skills development of young people as well as strengthening their connectedness to the community. It acknowledges the value of both community service style youth development, in addition to cadet style youth development programs.
“I find Minister Kemp’s actions quite hypocritical. On one hand, he has treated the work of the National Youth Roundtable members with contempt by not establishing any internal processes to formally consider their recommendations. On the other hand, he throws his weight behind a report that speaks of empowering and respecting the views and skills of Australia’s young people.
“I call on the Minister to make good on his rhetoric and commitment to young people by backing his report with some announced funding before the election.
“The Labor Party advocates and supports the principles contained in this report and congratulates those involved with its development including Ausyouth and the MCEETYA youth taskforce.
“After five years under the Howard Government young people need some action now,” Senator Lundy concluded.
85/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
|
|
