23 September 2002 - Media Release

Australian IT&T Deficit grows, and Alston doesn’t care

Senator Alston’s typically unconcerned reaction to Australia’s growing Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T) deficit, while predictable, is completely unacceptable.

Senator Alston needs to think seriously about whether he cares enough about Australia’s IT industry to be the Minister for Information Technology.

When the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced that Australia’s IT&T deficit had jumped from just over $9 Billion in 1998-99 to over $11 Billion in 2000-01, the Minister’s response was to say:

“We shouldn't be overly concerned about it so we shouldn't put a great deal of effort into reversing it”

The Minister’s reaction unfortunately reflects the Coalition’s lack of interest in developing Australia’s domestic IT&T industry.

This Government has demonstrated this through an outsourcing policy that continues to benefit foreign corporations at the expense of Australian information and communications technology businesses.

Many outstanding Australian ICT businesses have established a strong presence.  They deserve recognition from the Government, which has so far failed to understand the importance of the sector.

The Minister should ask the many thousands of Australian ICT professionals who are out of work whether they think we should put a great deal of effort into reversing job losses in the sector.

Senator Alston should remember that as the Minister for Information Technology he should be developing ways to grow the Australian ICT industry.

Media contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or the Electorate Office: 0418 488 295.

23 September 2002 - Media Release

AFL must reverse shameful decision on fans with disabilities

The Australian Football League’s decision to reverse its free-entry policy for the carers of people with disabilities is deeply disappointing and should not go unchallenged.

“People with disabilities who attend footy matches are some of the most committed fans in the League,” said Annette Ellis, the Shadow Minister Assisting on Disabilities. “It’s often much more difficult for them to get to the grounds than for other fans, but they are prepared to put in the extra effort,” she said. “For some, this means being accompanied by a carer.”

The additional cost of admission tickets for carers has been a serious disincentive for footy fans with disabilities - until the AFL agreed to allow carers in for free for the 2002 season. Fans with disabilities responded by attending matches, accompanied by their carers, throughout the year.

“But now as we hit the finals series, the AFL has abandoned its policy and is slugging these diehard fans by charging their carers, effectively doubling the price of their entry tickets,” Ms Ellis said. “This ‘cash grab’ mentality is appalling, and does nothing for the image or the appeal of this great game.”

“I am not surprised by reports that some footy fans with disabilities are now considering legal action against the AFL,” said Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minster for Sport. “But it shouldn’t have come to this. And there is still time to return some fairness and equity to the League’s ticketing policy for the rest of the finals.”

“Labor calls on the AFL to reverse its decision and allow the carers of people with disabilities free entry to the finals, and to all games in the 2003 season,” the Shadow Ministers said.

“This is about equity, consistency and fair access to sport for all Australians.”

For further information please call:
Annette Ellis MP 0419 422 296/Amanda Walsh (Adviser) 0411 734 569
Senator Kate Lundy 0419 421 553/Simon Tatz (Adviser) 0418 488 295

19 September 2002 - Media Release

35% decrease in IT&T profits rings alarm bells - but is the Coalition listening?

“In the midst of a global ICT downturn, the Australian ICT sector has been searching for leadership and strategic direction from the Government,” the Shadow Minister for Information Technology, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.

“Typically, that leadership is not forthcoming,” Senator Lundy said.

Today’s ABS report on Information Technology confirms what the information and communications technology (ICT) industry already knew: that, during 2000-01, profitability in the sector took a hit, decreasing 35% or $2,595 million since 1998-99.

“The Coalition continues to respond with a misguided approach to Government purchasing of ICT that favours foreign multinationals, the suspension of the R&D Start program, and an IT Minister who keeps reinforcing his international reputation for being a Luddite.

“Rather than supporting the sector, it advocates that Australia become net importers of ICT - perhaps explaining our huge ICT trade deficit.

“Thanks to Coalition complacency, a year on, the industry is still in the doldrums. Reduced profits have been accompanied by redundancies, with many ICT professionals finding it very difficult to get employment in the sector. Multinationals have also been closing their Australian branch offices.

“The Coalition’s lack of vision and leadership is unforgivable. It has undermined the efforts of Australian innovators seeking to grow their businesses through exports,” Senator Lundy said.

“Australia’s social and economic future will best be served by a strong strategy to promote and provide opportunities to Australia’s ICT small to medium enterprises,” Senator Lundy concluded.

Media contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or the Electorate Office: 0418 488 295.

13 September 2002 - Media Release

Senator Lundy at ‘Women in Information Technology’ Great Debate

More needs to be done to encourage women into the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, the Shadow Minister for IT, Senator Kate Lundy, said today at the ‘Women are Better at IT’ Great Debate held in Brisbane.

During the debate, which was sponsored by Women in Information Technology (WIT) and the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Senator Lundy raised some of the disappointing facts about women in the ICT industry.

“Governments of all persuasions must work with the community, educators, and the ICT industry to ensure that female participation is lifted well beyond the 19.8% of computing professionals that the Australian Bureau of Statistics identified,” Senator Lundy said.

“Unfortunately, at high school only half as many girls as boys demonstrate an intention to study information technology at a tertiary level, and on average only one in five university students studying IT courses are female. In some cases, this figure is as low as one in eight.”

“Encouraging more women into the ICT industry has emerged as a clear goal for industry groups such as the ACS, the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

“Labor supports this goal and when in government will work with these groups to achieve this outcome,” Senator Lundy concluded.

Media contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or the Electorate Office: 0418 488 295.

10 September 2002 - Media Release

Broadband still out of reach for many Cairns residents

Cairns residents have every right to be disappointed that Telstra is unable to provide a universal broadband service to the entire Cairns community.

Telstra’s claim that every Cairns resident is able to connect to broadband internet services is simply misleading.

When most people think of broadband, they invariably think of “ADSL”, a broadband service that Telstra has promoted quite widely.

However, what Telstra has failed to say in these advertisements is that ADSL is not available if you are connected to the telephone network through “pair gain” technology.

Telstra has confessed that over one million Australians are on a pair gain. These include Cairns residents and businesses in areas such as Edmonton, the Northern Beaches and Mulgrave Road.

Today I met with members of Cairns’ business and education community who expressed their frustration with getting broadband through the Telstra network.

Through my “Pair Gains Victims” website I have heard from other residents of Cairns each with stories of putting up with slow internet speeds, or being unable to access affordable broadband, because of pair gains.

Certainly, Cairns residents and businesses on pair gains can access broadband internet via other means, such as satellite or ISDN, but these options are either much more expensive or not as fast as Telstra’s widely advertised ADSL.

A fully privatised Telstra will never be “up to scratch” when it comes to providing universal broadband. That’s why Labor is committed to keeping Telstra in public hands.

Media contact: Jason Ives on 0411 237 683.

5 September 2002 - Media Release

Investment opportunities diminished by Coalition ICT policies

The Coalition’s information and telecommunications technology (ICT) training, education and immigration policies are failing to address the recent trend of several foreign-owned multinationals based in Australia employing overseas ICT professionals on short-term visas, the Shadow Minister for Information Technology, Senator Kate Lundy said today.

“While foreign investment is welcome, Australian ICT professionals are becoming increasingly concerned that this investment is not necessarily translating into Australian jobs,” Senator Lundy said.

“If this is the case, then blame falls squarely at the feet of the Coalition Government, which has had six years to develop an Australian ICT workforce strategy to meet the needs of ICT companies. It is another case where the Coalition has paid a lot of lip service, but little action.

“The Coalition should be investing in ICT training and up-skilling programs, programs that involve a significant amount of work experience, to ensure that Australian ICT professionals are competitive with their overseas counterparts.

“The Coalition must also better plan its migration program. Australia requires a long-term strategy to ensure that there is a body of skilled workers that can meet the employment demands of the ICT industry.

“It is astounding that the Coalition has limited the permanent skilled migration program for ICT workers, which is a long term program, instead of controlling temporary ‘457’ visas that allow a huge number of ICT workers to enter Australia in the short term. Labor called for this over a month ago,” Senator Lundy said.

Unfortunately the Coalition has failed to implement any kind of sustainable ICT employment strategy. Instead we find that:

“Unlike the Coalition, Labor has always had a forward looking approach to growing employment in Australia’s ICT sector, which is a key enabling industry for other sectors such as manufacturing and services,” Senator Lundy concluded.

Media contact: Simon Tatz on (02) 6277 3334 or Electorate Office: 0418 488 295.

2 September 2002 - Media release

Soccer inquiry at risk of being a whitewash

The government’s proposed inquiry into soccer should investigate all matters related to the financial and ethical management of women’s soccer, otherwise it will be a whitewash.

Sports Minister Kemp today released the terms of reference for his review of soccer in Australia. Whilst they don’t specifically address issues related to women’s soccer or the filming of a TV ad involving the Matildas, the terms of reference appear to broad enough to cover these issues.

I call on the review members to ensure these matters are fully investigated and would be extremely disappointing if Sports Minister Rod Kemp prevented this review from fully investigating allegations I have raised.

Last week I asked Minister Kemp to investigate a number of very serious issues related to the treatment of members of the Matildas and expenditure of taxpayers’ money allocated to the Australian Women’s Soccer Association (AWSA).

Furthermore, I requested that Minister Kemp include all issues surrounding the filming of a television ad featuring the Matildas be investigated following a number of complaints that female athletes were duped into appearing semi-naked and possible financial irregularities arising from this fundraising activity.