Kate Lundy,
Senator for the Australian Capital Territory
First Speech - 07/05/1996I would like to begin by thanking the people of the ACT and the
Australian Labor Party for granting me the honour of representing them in the
Senate. This honour followed the decision by Bob McMullan to contest the seat
of Canberra, a decision endorsed by the voters of that electorate. During his
eight years as ACT senator, Bob forged a well-deserved reputation as a highly
effective representative of the Canberra community. This reputation was further
enhanced by his service to the people of Australia as a minister and as a politician
blessed with sound judgment born of years of experience within the Labor movement.
It is a standard of ACT Senate representation of which the Australian Labor Party
can be justly proud. It is a standard established by the first Labor Party senator
for the ACT, Susan Ryan, and maintained by Bob McMullan. Susan, Bob and I are
very different people, but we are all united in our commitment to social justice
and our concern for people. This is the duty and responsibility now handed
me. I will pursue the principles and practice of equity and justice to the best
of my ability in the hope that I can do my remarkable predecessors proud.
I
would like to say a few words about former Senator Ryan and her historical contribution
to, amongst many other things, the status of women in Australia, a contribution
that had a direct impact upon me as a young woman seeking employment for the first
time. I share with around 30 per cent of parliamentarians a higher education consisting
not of tertiary qualifications but of life experience. In September 1984, at
16 years of age, I found myself employed in an industry largely unexplored by
women. No, I am not talking about the parliament; I am talking about the building
and construction industry.
The Sex Discrimination Act had become law in August
of that year and my experience is a tangible example of the positive difference
significant legislation can make to the daily lives of ordinary Australians. This
event set me on a path, albeit unexpected; a path that I have been honoured
to follow. Hence, finding myself in this chamber presenting my first speech 12
years later, but still with a scaffolders ticket in my pocket, is a positive reflection
on the accessibility of the democratic political processes which are fundamental
to both the Labor Party and the Australian nation. May I say that in this reflection
we see the presence and contribution of many women, including pioneers like Dorothy
Tangney, Enid Lyons, Margaret Guilfoyle and Susan Ryan--all of whom have opened
doors for other women. But it was the work of Susan Ryan that, for me, opened
that first door. These days, however, it is not enough just to hold open these
doors. By being here I gladly carry with me a responsibility, as do all women
elected to this chamber and the other place, to strive for the removal of those
doors altogether. And Labor started the process--so successfully in fact that
our opponents have belatedly jumped on the bandwagon and renewed my certainty
that one day there will be no trace of the barriers that once blocked the
full and active participation in the political processes by more than half of
the population.
The fact that someone like myself is here is the result of
the selfless, dedicated and diligent work of many Labor women over the years.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, all of whom have supported
me in everything I have ever undertaken--especially my partner George Wason. I
came from an essentially non-political upbringing, spending my early childhood
in Quirindi, New South Wales, before moving to Canberra when I was six years old.
I particularly want to thank my Labor Party and union colleagues and my friends,
all of whom have given me strength and confidence. I also thank them for sharing
this occasion with me. My children Alexandra and Annabelle, whom I hope, with
the pursuance of the family friendly environment up here on Capital Hill, will
only be affected in positive ways by their mother's choice to enter federal parliament.
There are many others who have played a pivotal role in my life. One of
those is Rod Driver who, against the best advice, took a risk and employed me
as a union organiser in the building and construction industry. Thank you, Rod:
your faith in me changed my life. The ideals pursued by the union movement
of equality in society and a fair go for all epitomise the Australian psyche.
The sense of purpose that comes with improving the lot of others was something
that I could not, and will not, let go. Unions, through their collective campaigns,
have secured over a very long period of time many improvements for working people.
I have a saying that I would like to share. For a worker to refuse to belong
to a union is not to exercise a democratic freedom; it is to accept benefits that
others have worked for without contributing to the costs. Democracy flourishes
only when freedom is accompanied by responsibility. It is the achievements
in occupational health and safety standards, hours of work, wage rates, superannuation,
long service leave, family leave, and the vast array of other award provisions
that union members have worked so hard for that have shaped Australian workplaces.
These achievements have only been possible because of our sensible industrial
relations legislation. I am talking about legislation that has taken nearly a
century to evolve.
The Industrial Relations Act provides for both an equitable
forum in which all industrial parties--employees and employers alike--can resolve
their differences as well as an environment which recognises the right of working
people to unite and use their collective strength to protect their family's standard
of living. Even employer associations admit that Labor's industrial relations
system does work well. The awards provide the benchmark for employment standards
and they must be protected. The achievements of unions are embodied in the awards
and to lose them, as is proposed by the coalition, would unravel a century of
effort by working people. Labor has and always will recognise this effort.
Also, Labor has embodied a commonsense approach to the prevention of workplace
illness and injury by way of legislation that involved all parties in the determination
and implementation of minimum safety standards. The various state--and now federal--coalition
governments have subsequently moved to systematically dismantle this tripartite
approach to health and safety.
With 500 workplace deaths and thousands of injuries
occurring each year I question their priorities. Surely the health and safety
of all Australians must be first and foremost in the minds of all legislators.
I would like to take this opportunity to put on the public record my support for
the initiatives taken to put in place very strong gun control laws in Australia,
and I express my deepest sympathy for the tragic events that have unfolded in
Tasmania in recent times. We, as Australians, can no longer take for granted
the standard of living and conditions of employment that we have become used
to. Working people will need to enlighten themselves very quickly as to the strategies
and support available to them through the union movement in the face of what will
be a systematic erosion of their rights. It is an unfortunate thing that political
awareness is often triggered as a result of a problem occurring, whether it be
in one's personal or professional life, and it is therefore crucial that initiatives
such as the civics educational program attract bipartisan support. This program
aims to empower everyone, regardless of their age, ethnicity or class, with knowledge
about the Australian political system. I predict that many people will have
their political awareness raised over the next few years. I have already seen
the ranks of the Australian Labor Party swelling as a direct response to the uncaring,
unfair and undemocratic industrial relations policy that this coalition government
is espousing. My own involvement in politics was something that emerged from
my experience of working on building sites. Before that, I was like many
other young people: pretty cynical about politics. This cynicism must be addressed
by all of us. We can all assist in restoring public faith in the political processes
by being true to our policies and to ourselves.
This is a big ask, but I for
one am determined to earn the respect of the people I represent by contributing
to the fair and effective public debate of issues which directly affect the quality
of lives of Australian families. The issues we, as senators, will discuss and
decide are the very issues which will determine what sort of life my daughters,
and indeed the next generation, will experience. My vision has been formed by
the proud tradition of Labor principles expressed and refined over a century--a
tradition which values actions above words and which, quite frankly, is offended
by the attitude inherent in a profit first, people last ideology. It is Labor's
ability to act decisively that distinguishes us from the other parties--our ability
to put in
place fair policies that go to the very heart of the just society.
The achievements of Labor in the form of Medicare, the social security safety
net, affordable and accessible child care, school retention rates, Aboriginal
reconciliation, the accord, universal superannuation, the forest conservation
reserve system, coast and land care, law reform, APEC and providing a vision for
the Australian republic have all contributed to the shaping of our identity as
a community. The need for sustainable jobs is at the forefront of public concern
and has seen Labor implement comprehensive strategies, such as Working Nation,
as a means of addressing this basic right of employment. Labor puts job creation
and job security at the top of our list of priorities. We saw this proud legacy
being adopted by the coalition during the election campaign in its desperation
to win government. Subsequently, we have seen the same legacy tossed out the window
as the coalition settles into its real agenda. It is this ideology which will alienate this government from the people. Dry economic rhetoric and conservative
propaganda promoting the new individualism will not fool the electorate. It will
only serve to remind voters of the high price they are being forced to pay under
the coalition. People of my generation who are experiencing adult life under a
coalition government for the first time will quickly appreciate, if they have
not already, the crystal clear distinction between the major parties. The Australian
Labor Party has learnt the hard way the importance of genuine communication with
the electorate, and we will go back to the people because our Labor ideology is
based on equity, not elitism.
Information and how it is communicated are major
determinants of power in our society. Many people have little restriction on their
ability to convey their views, but there are also many disadvantaged members of
our community who, through circumstances beyond their control, find it very difficult
to have their voice heard. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that all
groups in our society have the public means and the opportunity to form their
views without media bias and to be able to express them freely. The importance
of public policy relating to the use and control of credible information sources
and its increasingly complex delivery technologies cannot be underestimated if
we are serious about equitable and affordable access.
By the year 2000 the
information sector will be the world's second largest industry. Those nations
that develop the infrastructure necessary for this industry to flourish are the
nations that will prosper into the next millennium. Infrastructure is not just
cable and microwave dishes; it is an education and training system which can increase
people's skills in developing software and creating useful content. Already in
Australia information and information related activities employ more than 40 per
cent of the work force and generate 36 per cent of gross domestic product, and
this can only improve. High quality communications, widespread computer
usage and literacy, and a willingness to use modern engineering technologies will
be essential ingredients in our economic wellbeing. However, I am not yet convinced
that we have sufficiently analysed and discussed the societal and community effects
of this shift in our economic base. For example, although the need to take this
technology to rural Australia is well recognised, have we explored the long-term
impact on the economies of country towns? The geography of Australia provides
special challenges in terms of access to information infrastructure; challenges
that can be met only in a policy framework with priorities of equal access, universal
service and that which puts the needs of Australians--both suppliers and consumers--first.
The best way of ensuring this is through public ownership.
We need only to
look to Canberra, the nation's capital and my home, to see the rewards that come
from investing in information technology and what it brings to a government administration. There is no doubt that this investment in technology has been a
major contributor to the increases in efficiency achieved by the public sector,
and to cut expenditure in this area would be short-sighted and foolish.
Canberra
bashing has long been a hobby for the coalition. Uncharacteristically, the government
restricted its rhetoric during the election campaign and implied to the people
of Canberra that public sector job losses would be restricted to 2,500 positions
with no forced redundancies. With every passing day, however, the list of cuts
grows longer. Now I believe that even the Real Estate Institute of Australia in
the Australian Capital Territory is begging the ministers to curb their lust for
job cuts. I know that many of my Senate colleagues understand as well as I do
the kind of negative impact this will have on our community. I have been inundated
with letters and calls from people who are living in real fear of being declared
`excess'. The impact upon themselves, their personal morale and their families
is devastating. These are the people at the front line of the government's harsh,
dry political prescriptions, but they are not the only ones that will be affected.
The quality of service delivery for every Australian in need will be compromised.
It has been a long time since Canberra was a one-company town, but the private
sector here is still very concerned about the impact of reduced government spending
on our local economy. Small businesses are particularly susceptible to reductions
in consumer demand. There is no doubt that the private sector is much stronger
than it has been in the past and is innovative in promoting regional development
opportunities. However, coupled with the proposed cuts in the area of Canberra's
fastest growing private sector industry, it will be impossible to quarantine the
loss of jobs. Canberra is a community as rich and diverse as any other Australian
community. The fact that it is the nation's capital and home to the federal parliament
is something we are proud of, not something we should be penalised or punished
for. Canberra is my community and I represent the ordinary people: the people
who are working or trying to work; the people who are caring for others and those
that they care for; young people who are hopeful for the future and those that
are in despair; older people, active in retirement or in need of care themselves;
and, of course, the children whose future is in our hands. My job is to represent
these people in a way that unites us rather than divides us.
The Australian
Labor Party stands for the political and social values of equality, democracy
and freedom. These are the principles that I bring to the Senate. I thank honourable
senators. 
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