Reschooling Australia  OUR GREATEST NATIONAL CHALLENGE  Australia is teetering on the edge of educational anarchy Our leading educators believe we have less than a decade to avoid following the USA, where student and teacher alienation has passed the point of no return Yet our governments - state and federal, ALP and Coalition - show no signs of comprehending this.  Funding for schools has fallen by a quarter since the mid-70s. Australia now ranks as one of the bottom three "rich" nations for spending on education - alongside Turkey. We, as a nation, have the resources to reverse this criminal neglect. Deciding to do it is purely a matter of political will and national leadership. The Democrats have that will.  • We support, as an absolute minimum, the Australian Education Union's demand for an extra billion dollars for primary schools (from federal government tied grants raised via a specific levy).  • We also support increased funding for secondary education.  • Priority money must be directed at increased literacy and numeracy, through:  smaller class sizes, increased support staff (especially for early intervention), and better infrastructure.  • We want to stamp out reliance on 'voluntary' fees, fund-raising and corporate sponsorship User Pays inevitably means decent education for oniy those children whose parents can afford to pay for it. It is privatisation by steaith  Other key points-  • Standardised core curriculum and age of school entry nationwide, to recognise our increased mobility between states  • Breaking High School mto Middie and Senior schools, preferably using separate campuses.  • Support for integration of Senior school and vocational training  • More resources to meet special needs - be they for physically or intellectually disadvan-taged, English as a second language, or gifted chiidren.  • Increased rewards, prestige and professional development (especially regarding new technologies) for teachers, to attract our best young people into teaching to counter the acknowledged quality and quantity crisis.  • Partnership with Parents Program.  i  There are few more important things to a nation than education.  It is a basic building block of society.  Yet a lack of financial commitment from both state and federal governments is tearing the fabric of our education system apart.  It is a lack of political will from governments, both ALP and Liberal, which has landed us in this situation.  Our school systems are under pressure. Teachers, buildings, equipment all are being run down. From preschool to university, fees are up and quality is being squeezed.  The Democrats believe every Australian should have access to wellresourced, quality, free, public education at al) levels preschool, primary school, secondary school, TAFE and university.  Free, quality education is one of our core policies, our core beliefs.  Education is a right, not a privilege.    Fighting for Australia's EconomieIndependence  Putting our national interest first  Australio is losing control over its economie and cuttural destin/.  While Paul Keaïîng taîks on about symbdic îndependence mode through a change to on unmistakeably Australien Head of State (a mwe which the Democrate support), he has been actîvdy whîttling away our real inçlependence, boîh economie and Guttural, by cedîng control to foreîgn intereste and hternalional money marketeers, and dinging to policies which hdd bock our independent economie development. And the liberal and National Parties have supported him, iheir oniy quîbbîe being "barder and laster please Mr Prime Minîster".  The Democrate believe it is not oniy possible, but it is the utmost responsibility of our Govemmente to put Australia's national interest at itie forefront of ail economie and social polîcy - even in an age of "global integration".  Practical policy changes can and must be mode to put )he national interest first. Here'show ...  Foreign debt and foreign ownership.  Australia has excessive foreign debt ($180 billion) and excessive foreign ownership (foreign ownership/investment in Australia has doubled in the last decade to now account for 38% of our national economy). They are both a resuit of the same problem - a lack of national savings. As a nation we spend $105 for every $100 we eam. Each time we spend that extra $5, we have to call  on foreigners to provide it to us. That money cornes either as a loan (debt), or as direct ownership.  Think of the assets - both private and public - we have sold off recently. There's Qantas. Bank WA. Various Water and Energy authorities. There's Vegemite, Speedo, The Melbourne Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Amott's biscuits. Even some of our superannuation and insurance companies.  Of course, in some cases selling those assets can be beneficiai. It can increase our productivity and export potential, and therefore our income and savings. It can be especially beneficiai if it's in new industries or companies.  But the way things are, there is no guar-antee of net economie benefit to Australia.  The Government does not apply a "net economie benefit" test before approving foreign buy-outs. It does not follow up on whether promises are kept, or if the outflow of profits overseas is greater than the benefits left hère (if they are, then we're being ripped off). It does not even check to see what local alternatives there may be.  As it stands, outflow of profits and divi-dends to foreigners is the fastest growing component of our current account deficit. The Democrats want a strong Foreign Investment Commission to vêt ail decisions by applying genuine, strict national interest tests. Paul Keating abolished such tests in 1986, and, along with John Howard, has opposed our efforts to make sure foreign investment is in the national interest.  Savings incentive.  To encourage national savings we propose a tax rebate of up to 30% on the first $20,000 of savings in medium-term accounts, with the rebate increasing as the term increases.  Superannuation.  Mr Keating suggests superannuation fund managers are "donkeys" for investing Australian super funds overseas and not in expanding local companies. We say it's "pin the tail on the Prime Minister", because they are his ruies which encourage it to happen. We have constantly called for Australian investment ruies regarding superannuation, and will move to ban superannuation funds investing more than 10% of workers' savings in overseas countries. We aiso want 1% of superannuation money set aside in a fùnd for small and emerging Australian enterprises. Oniy that way can we make sure our funds are working for our country.  Gemubtie Australian labelling.  The Democrats have proposed stronger labelling laws to ensure consumers know exactiy what they are buying and where it came from. At present goods labelled Australian Made or Product of Australia can be completely foreign owned, and made from foreign ingredients or parts. The Democrats support the Australian Owned Companies Association's labelling System, and will move as a priority to introduce it as soon as parliament resumes.  Controlling speculation.  The Democrats advocate the introduction of a 0.5% tax on large foreign exchange transactions to make shuffling of money by international money men purely for short-term speculative purposes less attractive. This would increase the attractiveness of long-range investments, provide a revenue source, and give us greater economie independence.  Education & "Infrastructure".  The wealthy countries of tomorrow will be those which develop the skills of their people and which have top quality public infrastructure to take advantage of those skills. This is the view not just of the Democrats, but of the worid's leading economists. Australia's spending on thèse things is at a 40 year low - exactiy the wrong policy.  We need a national commitment to pub-licly invest in our stock of "national assets",  Asset sales & privatisation  The Democrate were fhe onfyparty to oppose ihe privcrfiscrfwî of rf»e Cxwmonwedîtfî Bank, Oantos and ofher nationa! assefe. We strongfy oppose ihe priwtisafhn of Teisfra. Public good is being iumed into private gaîn Ihrough fhese decisions. Nof ottly are fhey not in ihe nafionaf infères they are bad economies.  assets which are essential for a fair, efficient and vibrant economy and society. Assets like quality public schooîs, teachers, and universities. Assets like hospitals and nurses. Communications networks, rail and port facilities, roads. public transport, public housing, sewerage Systems and clean waterways.  The Democrats advocate a set proportion of the Budget each year being dedicated to developing national assets. If we do not do this, we will not be able to compete, and a nation unable to compete can never be sure of ils independence.  Trade.  For the last decade Australia has pursued a policy of unilaterally lowering tariffs on imports - the oniy country in the worid silly enough (because Labor and the Coalition agreed) to do so without getting our trading partners to do likewise. Not surprisingly, imports have flooded in - 27% of ail goods sold in Australia are now imported. Tariffs must onfy be reduced with our trading partners. We aiso need to encourage exports by adopting specifie industry growth plans.  The Environment.  Australia's economie well-being can never be separate from its environmental well-being. We must not promote short-term gain from unsustainable economie and environ-mental practices. Our population growth must be sustainable. We must ensure that the environment we hand on to our chiidren is at least as clean, as productive and as diverse as the one of which we were granted custody.    JOBS, JOBS, JOBS  Making Ihe economy work better  Democrat polides for more jobs. The Democrate have identified policy changes needed in four key areas to make the economy work better, for ail Australians.  1. The prtvate sector and small business. Unemployment cannot be solved until the private sector and small business start employing more workers. That is why we opposed the increased tax on building materials proposed by the ALP in last year's budget - it would have directîy hit jobs in the building industry and flowed on to croate job losses in other areas.  We believe the best way to encourage increased employment in the private sector is to abolish payroll tax - the tax on jobs. The Democrats propose a two-step phase out over three years, with the first step a 30% payroll tax rebate for additonal workers employed, meaning that for each new employee taken on, payroll tax for three exisiting workers is effectively abolished.  The next page details more of our small business intitiatives.  2. Industry Plans.  Instead of letting the "free market" ruie, strategie, targeted measures must be taken to boost exports, replace imports, encourage research and development, and provide access to venture capital. Thèse should be implemented under best practice industry plans which take advantage of our advantages.  3. Infrastructure, Education & the Public Sector - a successfùl framework and direct jobs.  As mentioned, Australia's spending on thèse things is at a 40 year low. That is exacdy the wrong policy. Public investment is necessary to maintain a stock of "national assets" essential for a fair, efficient and vibrant economy and society. Education, environmental repair and community services are three key areas. Investment in projects like Regional  Environmental Employment and community care pro vides productive, direct jobs much more effectively than flawed 'Working Nation' style subsidies. Public investment in other infrastructure provides work today and sets up the jobs of tomorrow. 4. Reshaping & Redefining "work". Increased flexibility in work arrangements is vital for our economie and social well-being. Job sharing, permanent part-time work, recognition and reward for currently "unpaid" work in the community and home are ail important. Aiso important is improving the social safety net (maternity leave, child care, carers' leave, public transport, ramily and unemployment payments, elimination of "povelty traps") to provide increased living standards and choice for those seeking to work, and to balance work and family. As important is providing an industrial safety net for workers who are not in a strong bargaining position. That is why the Democrats support maintaining an up to date award System and making sure arbitration is avaiîable to workers who still need it.  The building materials tax would bave cost jobs - and hitfamilies    Small business • jobs engine room  Most of the new jobs created in Australia each year corne from small business. Yet small and medium-sized businesses are hampered on many fronts from growing and creating even more opportunities. The Democrats have worked closely with small business organisations to identify conditions conducive to the creation of jobs.  1. Taxreform.  We fought for a eut in the impact of provisional tax - tax paid before income is earned - and when we weren't supported by either the ALP or the Coalition, we forced a Senate investigation into the impact of taxes on small business operations. We support the abolition of the tax on jobs -payroll tax and support changing Capital Gains Tax to allow tax-free rollover of proceeds from the sale of one small business into the purchase of another.  2. Access to finance. As part of our Log of Claims we have campaigned for fairer risk assessment for loans (the automatic 4% difference between big business and small business is too much), and especially for a Small Business Loans Insurance Scheme, to enable small business to obtain unsecured finance based on cash-flow. We aiso advocate the direction of 1% of burgeoning superannuation funds into a pool for small and medium enterprises.  3. Competition policy.  Small business must be able to compete  freely and fairly with market-dominating big business. We strengthened the Trade Practices Act to prevent mergers and takeovers which would substantially lessen competition, and want fùrther changes to prevent unconsdonable conduct, for example by shopping centre managers to lessees, and by oil companies to service station owners.  We stringently oppose the use of Competition Policy to remove regulations which protect small businesses from big -particulariy for newsagents, petrol resellers, taxi owner/operators and various aspects of agricultural industries. 4. Training & ML  Employment and training programs must be made more flexible, skills and management networking encouraged, and a better balanced unfair dismissals process instigated.  Retiremenft • security the key  Security is the key to retirement. Retired  Australians should be able to rely on a System  of clear, stable policies regarding income  (pension and other), taxation and support  services.  Key policy points are:  • to recognise home ownership as a vital form of retirement saving, and support limited access to superannuation savings to assist workers become home owners;  • to support well-targeted tax relief on normal savings;  • to support compulsory superannuation, but want urgent review of pension/tax mix, including reducing the current 70% effective tax rate;  • our continuai opposition to the increase in women's pension age to 65;  • to support equal frange benefits and tax rebates for pensioners and retirees on equal incomes.    WATCHDOGS  Keeping the bastards honest  The Australian Democrate are parliament's Accountability Experts.  We have transfomied the Senate to be the place where the real business of parliament is done. In the words of the Courier Mail "The Senate is not - as the Prime Minister should note with regret for his quick mouth  - unrepresentative swill. It is an absolute element of parliamentary control over the Executive" (March 4, 1994).  It is the Democrats* presence which ensures Govemment is not a law unto itself  - and that the Opposition cannot be purely obstructive.  The Democrats' record of responsibly using the Senate to win greater accountability is extensive.  Some of the work is high-profile, some is behind the scènes.  There was "sports rorts" - exposing the  lack of accountability of sports grants spending - which we used to increase the powers of the Auditor-General. There was the "media ownership" inquiry, which exposed high-level deals and laid bare the farcical operation of the Foreign Investment Review Board. Then there was the Keating Government's "rent-a-Cabinet" scam. But there are other areas, like representing the "Casualties of Telecom" group, and making sure the Trade Practices Act protects small business from big. More generally, we scrutinise every single pièce of legislation.  The Democrats not oniy provide direct accountability, but we act to defend and strengthen other bodies which are important to keeping government working openly, and in the public interest. Across ail areas, from Budgets, to airports, to the operation of democracy itself, the Democrats are your parliamentary watchdogs.    Democrats' Charter for Refform  The Australian Democrate have long advocated reform of parliament to make governments more accountable to the people.  To that end we have drafted a Charter for Reform, which outlines urgent, practical and achievable accountability reforms which we believe must be taken over the next three years.  We are now seeking commitments from the major parties in the following six reform areas:  1 Reform of Politicians' Ethics and Accountability  2 Reform of the Right to Information  3 Reform of Budget and Financial Accountability  4 Reform of Public Service Independence and Accountability  5 Reform of the Accountability of Cabinet and Prime Minister ('the Executive') to the Parliament  6 Reform of the Constitution to strengthen accountability through the Senate  POUTICIANS' ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY  • Immediate adoption of a strong Code of Conduct and establishment of an Ethics Committee (with conununity majority) to develop and implement Code  • Parliamentary Commissioner of Standards to investigate breaches of Code, reporting to Ethics Committee  • Strong sanctions if breaches proved  • Increased detail in politicians' Register of Financial Interests  • Ministers, Senior Bureaucrats and Senior Advisers banned from jobs with fînns they have dealt with for three months after resigning, and for up to two years if the Parliamentary Commissioner of Standards recommends*  Senator Kernot... pushed the Government considerabty harder  than it enjoyed being pushed ... Mr Keating ... was obviousiy angry and frustrated by Senator Kernot's persistence."  Geoff Barker, The Age February 19,1994, on the Democrats and oaountability.  il  Environment  The Australian Democrats are passionate about the environment. We aiways have been.  From the early 1980s when Don Chipp campaigned to save the Frankiin River and we drafted Australia's first Worid Heritage legislation, our party members, MPs and Senators have ail shared a strong commitment to the Australian environment. We have an 18 year history of achievement on environmental issues and an 18 year record of parliamentary action on the environment.  We are justifiably proud of both our history and our record. From forests to endangered species, from coasts to chemicals, from greenhouse to green jobs, our record speaks for itself. We are Australia's original -and stiil its best - environment party.  For more information on our record ask us for the 'Democrats' Environment Pack'.  URANIUM  The Democrats introduced a Bill to ban exports of uranium to France. Labor and the Coalition prevented it being debated.  "Bastille Day can no longer mean liberty, equality andfratemity. It is now synonomyous with permanent ecological destruction, radio-active poisoning and death. There is nothingfor tbe French to celebrate in holding the worid hostage  to the fear of nuclear war."  WORLD HERITAGE  Worid Heritage is the Democrats1 Heritage. The Democrats introduced Australia's first Worid Heritage legislation in October 1982. We led the campaigns in federal parliament to save the Frankiin and the Daintree.  We have aiso led campaigns to save other precious areas - such as Jervis Bay, Shoaiwater Bay, Hinchinbrook and Exit Cave. We are j'ealous protectors of Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef. We fully support worid heritage listing for Tasmania's remaining temperate rainforests (such as the Tarkine area). Whether it be coastal or inland, marine or arid, the Democrats work tirelessiy to protect Australia's natural heritage - for now, and forever. Nobody does it better.  TAS DAM    Former Democrats Leader Don Chipp rafting the Frankiin in the early 80s.  COASTS  The Australian Democrats:  • Ran Coastal Watch campaign identifying coastal areas at risk from different problems, from pollution to development.  • Campaigned vehemently against ocean outfaUs which discharge sewage directly into the sea.  • Led opposition to inappropriate and damaging developments in sorne of Australia's most beautifùl and significant coastal areas, including Port Hinchinbrook, Shoaiwater Bay and Jervis Bay.  • Want a National Coastal Management Act and Authority to manage and protect Australia's coastline - something Labor and the Coalition refuse to support, despite it being unanimousiy recommended by environmental experts.  • Won added protection for the Great Barrier Reef.  • Opposed Australia's rôle in letting industrial waste be dumped at sea  • Proposed a $100 million, 3-year coastal zone repair program.  WOODCHIP CHALLENGES  "Without the initiative and generosity oftbe Australian Democrats the taskfor a small, community-based environment organisation to raise tbefunds required to take legal action in the Federal Court would be almost insurmountabîe "  Tasmanian Conservation Trust  "This Council welcomes the grantfrom the Woodchip Fighting Fund established by the Democrats. Thegrant will enable this Council to continue its court actions challenging the validity oftbe licences granted by the Minister of Resources for the export of woodchips from theforests ofNENSW"  North Coast Environment Council, NSW  "Environment group Environment Victoria today welcomed a contribution of $5,000 towards its legal challenge to the (four) Victorian Export Woodchip Licences. The money was contributed from the/îghting fund set up by the Australian Democrats H  Environment Victoria, June 1995  THREATENED  The Democrats introduced utto paritenertt ihe inost comprehensive pièce of legislation ever wnïten to protect our unique fhpealiened species of flora and fauna - but it was defeated by the combined Labor and the Coalition parties. I-abor then introduœd ils own» weaker version.   SPEOES  The t»q'noçratS won 12 ainendmentiç to irengthen that Bifl, but another 70 aoiend-nients ere defeated, once again by oombined Labor and Uberal. The çurrent Ïaw is not good enough - the Democrats wiH move'again to properly protect Australia's threatened species.    Green & Practical  i  Green &  The Woodchip Licence Fighting  Fund  The Government insists on reissuing licences to woodchip thousands of hectares of oldgrowth forest. Forest that was here long before we were. Forest that is home to innumerable species of native plants, birds and animals.  The Democrats have always believed it is lunacy for the Government to allow these forests to be chipped for export. Noone would let the Tai Mahal be knocked down and sold off for marble chips! So Tasmanian Democrat Senator Robert Bell cofunded  (with the Tasmanian Conservation Trust) a,  legal challenge to one export woodchip licence and won, on environmental grounds.  Following that victory Victorian Democrat Senator Sid Spindler established  the Woodchip Licence Fighting Fund.   The fund has so far raised $25,000 (and distributed $15,000) for further legal challenges. Any money left after the court  battles will be distributed to Environmental  Defenders' Offices, or used to establish a permanent conservation movement fighting fund.  The Fund's patrons are Justice Elizabeth  Evan, Phillip Adams and Peter Garrett. Its auditor is Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants. More information on the Woodchip Licence Fighting Fund is available by calling (03) 94161880. Donations are very welcome.  The Woodchip Licence Funding Fund is a Democrat initiative which has resulted in a real win for our forests. It's just one example of the Democrats leading the way in being green and practical.  RIP, RIP, WOODCHIP.  Facing the f vivre • a plan for restructuring  In March 1995 Democrats' Leader Cheryl Kernot delivered to the Prime Minister this 8-step plan to restructure the wood products industry. It's still the best and most practical way out of the woodchip fiasco.  1. Set a defînite timetable to phase out ail logging of native forests.  2. Set a defînite timetable to phase out export woodchipping from native forests (ASAP).  3. Introduce a 110% tax deduction for plantations' expansion on aiready cleared land.  «  4. Axe subsidies for native forest logging,  and either (a) introduce a 15% sawn logs' levy for timber from native forests or (b) an export tax on woodchips from native forests.  5. Introduce regional planning processes to fully utilise plantation timber, including encouragement of environmentally sound downstream processing, and to provide employment and business development assistance for forestry workers affected by the re-structuring.  6. Promote efficient use of existing  plantations, including a 100% investment allowance for sawmillers to update technology.  7. Reduce the 21% sales tax on recycled paper products to zero - or, at worst, 11%.  8. Encourage pulp users and particle board manufacturers to source pulp from fibres other than wood.    WASTE, ENERGY a SUBSTAINABLE CITIES  Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need for governments to implement policies for sustainable cities and lifestyles.  • The Democrats have won $36 million for development of ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels, reducing lead and carbon dioxide emissions.  • We strongly support increased funding for cheap, accessible public transport, especiaîly rail, and oppose expansion of toiïways (see Citylink - page 23).  • We advocate tax breaks for installation of solar panels, insolation and water tanks as part of our "household conservation program".  • We have won tax advantages for re-cycled products (withdrawn last year by combined Labor/Coalition).  • We propose nation -1 programs to properly manage sewage, stormwater, and industrial and rural waste.  • We have forced establishment of a code goveming the building of telecommunications towers.  *  • We have opposed privatisation of water, gas and electricity services as ultimately inefficient.  Greenhouse Conference. We argued for a fossil fuels pollution levy as part of a program to include environmental costs in product prices.  • We advocate a 110% investment allowance for industry to implement energy conservation.  • We want to encourage the enormous potential for jobs in environment industries -both in the private and public sector.  • Following the BHP Ok Tedi disaster we pressured the Government to develop a code of conduct for Australian companies operating overseas.  CONSUMER PROTECTION • CHEMICALS  The Democrats have proposed national legislation to monitor and control the use of chemicals. Tasmanian Senator Robert Bell is patron of the Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance.  ADDING ENVIRONMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION  The Democrats strongly advocate adding a specifie environmental "head of power" to the Australian Constitution, to allow us to more uniformiy protect and nurture our natural heritage.  GREENING INDUSTRY AND THE ECONOMY  The Democrats are proud of our long record of putting forward alternative views to the current economie agenda.  • We have pushed for social and environ-mental considerations to be incorporated into economie approaches, including the Worid Trade (GATT) Agreements.  • We have organised Australia's pre-eminent  The Democrats. Australia's original and still ils best 'green' party.    Making a difference ••• to your household  • We want genuine .not misleading latx  so shoppers can m•  • We want tag breasolar heating, insula . reduce energy use a .  Australians value their quality of life. • We voted against  It is the job of our parliamentarians to do age going up to 6:  what they can to maintain and improve that Coalition put it up.  quality of life through decisions made and • We want to protel  actions taken in our parliaments. having to pay for vi,  That is the driving force behind the  Democrat team. To try and make sure  governments, of whatever colour, make AUSTRi  quality, fair decisions. Decisions for the  longterm good of all Australians.  Decisions which will help create a  strong economic base providing jobs and  opportunities for the maximum number of  people, while at the same time protecting  our heritage; decisions improving access to  affordable, quality health care, banking,  education, child care and housing; decisions  making choice possible.  Quality, longterm benefits to all  Australian households, now and into the  future. That is the Democrats' record, that OWNEL  is the Democrats' promise.  • We have always opposed taxes on the necessities of life - basic food, clothing and shelter - and will continue to do so.  • We keep fighting for better home affordability and lower rental costs by forcing lower interest rates and fees through genuine bank competition and close bank monitoring.  • We fîght for better rent assistance and public housing for those who can't or don't want to buy.  • We blocked the tax on building materials.  • We believe in allowing access to superannuation fùnds for events other than retirement - such as for a home deposit, or the expense of a new-bom child.  • We want to fund independent community advisory services to help "interpret" bank and superannuation statements, and help sort out problems with fees and charges.  • We want to increase the options available to balance work and family responsibilities, including increasing the Home Child Care Allowance, better and longer matemity leave, and more flexible work and child care arrangements, such as entitlement to carers' leave, which we argued for in the Industrial Relations Commission.  • We have won a compulsory annual review of enterprise bargaining to make sure there is no negative impact on low income eamers and women.  • We support the award System, and support state employees being able to move to federal awards.  • We have prevented the Government from limiting access to child care and are working with the industry to increase access, availability and quality.  • We stand up for accessible, quality, free public education. We SAY N0 to fees, from our kindergartens and primary schools to our TAFEs and universities.  • We strongly support Medicare and have backed heaith reforms which will provide cheaper, better heaith insurance packages.    • We want genuine Australian labelling -not misleading labelling, as now allowed -so shoppers can make informed choices.  • We want tax breaks for installation of solar heating, insulation and water tanks, to reduce energy use and costs.  • We voted against the women's pension age going up to 65. But Labor and the Coalition put it up.  • We want to protect Australians from having to pay for viewing their favourite TV  shows and teJevised sports evenîs. Murdoch and Packer must not be left to run rampant against the community interest.  • We won an increase of 50% in the low-income eamers' tax rebate, and want to increase the tax free threshold to $7,000 for low income eamers.  • We are absolutely committed to the long-term preservation of Australia's environment, and moved to ban uranium exports to France (defeated by combined Labor and the Coalition).  Genuine Australian labelling  The Democrats. Working for you, and your family.    Better Health  The Democrats believe all Australians have a right to equal access to a high standard of health and hospital care, irrespective of their wealth or where they live.  We support a public health system funded primarily through the taxation system as being the most equitable and efficient way of meeting that entitlement.  We believe the key to a successful health system is to reduce pressure on that system through improved primary health care services and a strong commitment to health promotion and illness prevention.  The Democrats would prefer to see Medicare become the national insurer, covering choice of doctor and hospital in shared ward accommodation in either a public or private hospital.  The Democrats believe the Commonwealth Government should take over the funding of public hospitals from the states, with direct services being delivered though regional management structures. More detail on this is available in the Democrats' Health 2000 paper.  MED1CARE  The Democrate strongly support Medicare, and bulk-billing as the best way of delivering affordable, accessible heaith care to ail Australians. We want to extend Medicare to include basic dental services and other additional heaith services, including chiropractie, acupuncture and psychological counselling services. The Democrats aiso want to allow trained nurses to provide certain community heaith care services on a fee-fbr-service basis, which would be reimbursable under Medicare. To pay for the extension of Medicare services the Democrats would make the Medicare levy more progressive (that is, a higher contribution from higher income earners).  HOSPITALS AND WA1TING LISTS  The Democrats believe the Medicare Charter of Patients' Rights should include a waiting time limit guarantee. We advocate a toll-free waiting list "hot line", based on a national data collection and administration program for hospital waiting lists, which will provide information on how long the wait is for particular procedures, hospitals and surgeons. We advocate fùnding of additional salaried specialists and registrars where there are identified shortages, and increases in funded training positions in those areas.  CASEMIX AND FÙNDING  The Democrats believe the states should be compelled to direct any savings they make from the implementation of casemix fùnding back into the public heaith system. We want a capital expenditure program to enable our public hospitals to upgrade old and substandard buildings and to acquire new equipment and technologies. We want ambulance services to be run on a national basis, and new community heaith centres established in disadvantaged areas.  PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE  The Democrats were instrumental in winning changes to private heaith insurance laws which will make it possible for insurers to offer better, cheaper heaith packages.  Defending & expanding community services  The Democrats believe ail Ausîraîians are entitled to a higb îeveî oflow-cost community services, such as child care, aged and disability care, and community health. The existence of'thèse services is under threat from a Govemment mentality which sees them as costs to be eut, not as responsibilities to be met. They arefurtber under threat from compulsory competitive tendering, and other practices coming out ofthe Hilmer "competition" reforms. Aged Care.  Older Australians should be encouraged to remain independent for as long as possible. Hospital and institutionat or residential care should be a last resort. Our policy is to fùnd more community-based aged care services and programs, including an immediate boost of 20% in funding for Home and Community Care (HACC) programs, and specifie runding for short-term nursing, rehabilitation and domiciliary support for elderly people at home. We wffl ensure existing public or private residential services are properfy funded. We believe the Commonweaith should maintain full responsibility for ail aged care services. Child Care & Early Chlldhood. Choice and quality are fùndamental to eady childhood policy. Choice is fîrstly about a parent being able to stay at home with a child if the parent wants, or being able to go to work (full or part-time) if the parent wants. To make the first choice more possible we have advocated an increase in the Home Child Care Allowance from $30 to $60 per week (where the child is aged 6 or under). To make the second choice more possible, the Democrats have a commitment to affordable, accessible child care and other early childhood services. We support accreditation to guarantee quality, and Child Care Assistance and the Child Care Cash  Rebate to guarantee affbrdability. We support a mixture of community-based and private services as being the most practical way to meet demand. We have proposed a co-ordinated early childhood services planning process (with the ruil support of service providers), because the integration of child care, pre-school and kindergarten is occurring in an ad-hoc, unpianned way. People with Disabilities People with disabilities must have an equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to society. We believe financial recognition of the additional costs born by people with disabilities and their familles is necessary, and want a comprehensive, universaî Disability Allowance to recognise this fact. We would exempt from sales tax equipment purchased to assist people with disabilities, and make donations to approved disability organisations tax deductible. We want unifonn guardianship legislation throughout Australia, to protect the rights and interests of people with disabilities, and would fùnd programs and services encouraging participation of people with disabilities in the community and the workforce. The Democrats would increase Commonweaith fùnds for mental illness programs, extend Medicare to cover specified counselling services, and introduce uniform legislation setting standards for services and psychotherapeutic medications. Caring for Carers.  The Democrats will consolidate and expand existing payments to carers and provide guaranteed income support for persons engaged in unpaid caring activities, be it for chiidren or an older person at home. We advocate fùnding of support networks for the carers of elderly and disabled people, and would introduce tax deductability for expenses incurred in providing that care.    Higher Education & Youth  No Fees for Degrees  The abolition of tertiary fees by the Whitlam Govemment in the 1970s was one of the greatest social reforms ever seen in this nation. It took tertiary education out of the hands of the priviliged, and opened it up to ail Australians  Since 1986, however, the Keating and Hawke Labor Govemments have been undoing that reform, aided and abetted by the liberal and National Parties The Democrats are the oniy party to have voted against ail attempts by the major parties to re-mtroduœ a user-pays based education System  We opposed the introduction of HECS m 1986, and have opposed ail attempts to quicken the rate of fee repayaient (although this has happened because the Coalition has consistendy supported Labor on fees). We opposed the introduction of a loans scheme to supplement Austudy, a Labor scheme which would have compelled many students to incur further debt simply to afford the necessities of life. We have and will oppose to me death up-front fees.  The Democrats are Australia's oniy free education party.  YOUNG PEOPLE, RESPECT AND JOBS  Getting a job is crucial to most young people. The Demoorats have proposed a program called RESPECT not oniy to generate jobs, but to hetp young people cope with the mental depression caused by fruitless jobsearch. Respect for young people must be a precursor to young people respecting society.  STUDENT ORGANISATIONS  The Democrats believe student organisations provide vital on-campus services for students, including childcare, cheap food, photocopying, counsellmg, meeting rooms and sports facilities, as well as a voice for students in campus management Making levies for thèse services  voluntary would threaten their provision, especialîy at a time when Austudy and other income support measures are inadequate. More than ever, students need organisations dedicated to protecting their rights  YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT  The Australian Democrats don't just talk about involving young people in politics -we do it, and at the highest level The two youngest women ever to enter the Senate have both been Democrats. Karin Sowada, from NSW, was 29 when she became a Senator in 1991, and Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, from SA, is still just 26.  Women In Politics  Since our earliest days the Australian Democrats have led the way in getting women into politics. When it cornes to women, ours is a history of "firsts" .  We were the first Australian political party ever to elect a woman as Leader (Janine Haines), and still remain the oniy federal party to have ever been led by a woman. In fact, three of our five leaders since our inception in 1977 have been women. We were the fîrst party ever to elect a woman as National President. More recently, we were the first party to elect women in both the Leader and Deputy Leader positions - Cheryl Kernot and Meg Lees. We have aiso had elected to parliament Australia's two youngest women senators - Natasha Stott Despoja and Karin Sowada.  This record has been achieved because women are - and aiways have been - active at ail levels and in ail areas of the Democrats. We are living proof that equality of opportunity in politics is achievable - and ail based on merit. In the Democrats it's what you believe in and what you do that matters, not who or what you are. It is the structure and philosophy of our party which allow ail members to shape the party's direction which has led to just, humane, fair and sensible policies which, in turn, women (and men!) find attractive.  EQUAUTY FOR WOMEN IN PEOPLE AND POLICIES  • won women & wperannuotîon înquîry, and reforms;  • foreed Gownment to monîtor impad of  enterprise bargaining on women;  • arguect for and won paid oarers* leave;  • polîcy for încrease in Home Child Care Aîfowance to create choice;  • champion anti-sex discrimination legislation where !»*& necessary;  • polîcy for omciaJ recognition of value of unpaid work.  The Democrats' Leadership Team for the 90s - Meg Lees & Cheryl Kernot  "... you'd have to soy the Australian Democrats have led the way  Carmen Lawrence, lounchîng 'Every Woman"& Guide to Getting into Politics'/ April 1995  Media & Communications  MEDIA & DIVIRS1TY: KERRY AND RUPERT SHOULDN'T OWN EVERYTHING  The Democrats are Australia's leading advocates of diversity in media ownership. Concentration of ownership - and foreign ownership at that - is greater in Australia than in any other comparable nation. It is vital in a democracy that important sources of news and information be held in different and competing hands. The Democrats aiso believe Australia's media should be in Australian hands - but not at the expense of aiready Umited diversity.  The ruies for media ownership must be clear and watertight. There must not be scope for politicians to change the ruies goveming allowable ownership if it suits their own interests, Such a set of ruies were proposed by the Democrats in the report of the Senate inquiry into newspaper ownership.  The Democrats supported tightening the definition of 'control' in broadcasting, and strongly advocate tighter cross-media ownership ruls, including Pay TV as well as radio, free-to-air TV and press.  NATIONAL BROADCASTERS  The lack of diversity in Australian media ownership means that the national broad-casters - the ABC and SES - must be kept strong and independent.  The Democrats are committed to fuly funding both organisations as significant sources of independent, impartial and Australian news, information and entertainment.  AUSTRALIAN CONTENT  The Democrats strongly support Australian content in the media, including Pay-TV. The images and information Australians see and hear should reflect Australian culture and perspectives. That is why we legislated for minimum Australian content ruls and a review of the content of pay TV.  KEEPING AUSTRALIA'S TOP SPORTS AND FAVOURITE PROORAMS FREE  The Democrats were instrumental in setting up the laws which will keep Australia's top sports and favourite programs on free-to-air TV. Pay-TV must add to diversity and viewing choice, not simply grab what we see for free now and make us pay for it.  ACCESS TO THE PHONE  The telephone is an essential service which must be accessible to ail Australians. Yet more than one million Australians don't have that access. The obligation to provide a phone for ail at reasonable cost must be met.  TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS  A strong Telecommunications National Code must ensure Telstra, Optus and Vodafone meet ail local planning rules, environmental and healh concerns when they are running cables or erecting towers.  TELSTRA • PRIVATISATION  The Democrats oppose the privatisation of Telstra. It is not in Australia's national interest to have our vital communications infrastructure owned and operated by private interests.  or what's wrong with Australian communications policy and what the Govemment's cultural statement  should do about it BBHBE  The Democrats' Communications statement  National Gun Control.  We are strong advocates of national firearms legislation to control the proliferation of guns.  Foreign ald.  Australia's international aid should be progressively increased to the UN acceptable level of 0.7% of GDP, and be targeted strictiy at poverty alleviation.  Discrimination,  The Democrats oppose ail forms of discrimination, including on the grounds of race, sex, sexual preference, income and age. We have forced anti-discrimination clauses into ail appropriate legislation. Equality before the law is a basic tenet of our beliefs.  Aboriginal health.  The health of many of Australia's Aboriginal and Islander communities remains a national shame. More than reassuring words are needed - action must be taken.  Gay & Lesbian issues.  As well as supporting the Sexual Privacy • Bill, and forcing anti-discrimination clauses into ail legislation, the Democrats have proposed legislation explicitly prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, and argued before the Industrial Relations Commission for equal rights to carers' leave for same sex couples.  Race hate.  The Democrats supported the Govemment's law targeting those who incite racial hatred, and opposed the Coalition and Greens' removal of criminal sanctions because it made the law a "toothless tiger".  Famiiylaw.  The Democrats have been at the cutting edge of family law reform, and are moving to ensure the rights, safety and welfare of chiidren are put first in family law judgements. We opposed the increase in family court law fees. We aiso want to ensure that mediators and arbitrators are not immune from prosecution for negligence or misconduct.  Billol rights.  We support Australia having its own Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, preferably inserted into the Constitution.  Senator Vicki Bourne (wth tbe Dalai Lama) - strong on Tibet, East Timor, Burma  Low income earners.  The Democrats won a 50% increase in the low income earners' rebate, and have had safeguards inserted in industrial legislation to make sure the impact of enterprise bargaining is monitored closely. The social security System creates "poverty traps" which the Democrats have consistently tried to eliminate (opposed by Labor and Coalition).  Casualties of Telecom.  The Democrats have sought, and won, redress from Government for the group of people known as the "casualties of Telecom", who have suffered harassment and business damages because of the actions of Telecom.  Deputy Leader Meg Lees visits Brewarrina wth former AMA Aboriginal health adviser Barb Flick  Revitalising Regional Australia  Government neglect through cut-backs and "competition policy".  Australia's regions are being neglected in many ways. There are govemment cut-backs to roads, rail, hospitals and schools. There is the pursuit of 'levei playing fîeld' trade polides. And there are 'competition' policies which are removing cross-subsidisation and community service obligations. The Democrats advocate action in ail thèse areas to help revitalise regional communities. Competition Policy. The Competition Policy Reform Bill was passed by the combined Labor, Liberal and National parties and opposed by the Dernocrats. We argued for exemptions for certain industries and communities when the legislation was debated, and tried to make amendments to put them into effect. Those efforts, which would have protected regional communities, were defeated by the combined Labor, Liberal and National parties. International trade.  The Democrats believe in fair trade rather than 'blindiy in free trade- We believe in creating a balanced local economy. Blind faith in free trade allows the rest of the worid to exploit us. Last year Australia added $2.1 billion to our national debt by importing foodstuffs, much of which could have been produced hère, but which is cheap due to low wages in third worid countries or international subsidies. We can and must act to help ourselves. Our anti-dumping and labelling laws (see page 6-7} must be strengthened, and protection given where competition is simply unfair.  Regional deveopment planning. The Democrats advocate revitalising regional Australia through a program of planned regional economie development, which would map out long-term futures for areas such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. This should be backed up by a move to regional governments, replacing our existing, unwieldy, unresponsive state governments with well-resourced governments doser to the people. Employaient.  The Democrats believe Regional Development Organisations (REDOs) should identify and develop employment and economie opportunities, in conjunction with specifie federally-supported industry plans. There must be a federal commitment to regional services (teachers, community heaith workers etc) and to infrastructure (upgrading rail lines, waste management, capital works in schools and hospitals), including environmental repair work, through Regional Environmental Employment Programs. The other primary generator of regional jobs is small business. The Democrats advocate policies to help small and medium sized businesses flourish (see page 8-9). Petrol priees.  The petrol price differential between regional and metropolitan Australia is a massive np-off driven by the market power of the large petroleum companies. It is a dear example of "market failure", and urgent govemment intervention is needed to correct it.  Deputy Leader Meg Lees launching River Rescue at Albury. Photo courtesy: Border Mail  Senator John Woodîey  Phones & communications.  De-regulation and privatisation of telecommunications carriers will harm regional communities, because cross-subsidisation which keeps costs lower in regional areas wiîl inevitably disappear. The Democrats will fight to have community service obligations to regional areas inserted into any future telecommunications legislation, just as we did with the Hilmer competition reforms. Education.  The future of this nation is dependent on quality education being available to aîl our citizens, including those in regional areas. Cut-backs to primary and secondary schools must stop, and education allowances such as Austudy musc be made available on a genuinely equal footing  RURAL AUSTRALIA  Rural Australia is sîowly emerging from the worst rural crisis in generations, having suffered not just front the effects of the recession» but aiso from record low commodîty priees and extrême weather conditions.  The problems are widespread. They include serious social upheaval, loss of govemment services, enviromnental mismanagement and the indiffèrent attitude of banks and big business.  The Australian Democrats believe that small farms, and family fanns in particutar, bring more overall benefît to farmers, to local communities, and to the nation fhan do absentee fannaeis, multinational corporations or agribusiness.  Democrat policy is aimed at establishing and protecting strong, viable fanîily fanns, small businesses and associated coun,try comniunities.  Austudy and other inconae support.  The Democrats have moved time and again in the Senate to have family farms and certain small business assets exempted from the assets tests for Austudy and family support payments. It is extraordinarily unjust that small business and farming families cannot access our income support System to help feed, clothe and educate their chiidren in times of crisis, as ail other Australian familles can. Our moves have aiways been defeated by combined Labor/Coalition. Health.  The Democrats advocate a new region specifie heatth program focusing on families. It includes incentives for attracting and retaining heaith professionals in regional areas, including support services for GPs, a mental heaith component, and decent allowances for those caring for relatives, friends and children.We have opposed the closure of regional hospitals because thèse facilities are vital parts of the social fabric.  @comments: missing pages concern candidates: do not include.  Reforming our Constitution  The Australian Democrats are strong supporters of Australia becoming a Republic. In a nationwide ballot of Democrat members conducted in 1994, the Party formally embraced the principle of the nation becoming a Republic with an Australian Head of State.  Method of election. The most appropriate method of election of a President depends to a large extent on the role and powers of that person. The Democrats believe the President's power should be clearly codified, to add to national stability. We favour those powers being limited and non-discretionary. If that were the case, there seems no practical reason why direct election by the people could or should not occur. However, the Keating model retains the extensive unwritten powers of the Governor-General. In that case, election by two-thirds majority of parliament is the best way of avoiding the problems of potential conflict between two bodies (Government and President) which feel they have a public mandate, Parliamentary election is a step forward from the current situation of appointment by Prime Minister alone.  However, in that case the Democrats would advocate public involvement in nominating a list of Presidential candidates from which the padiament could choose (for example, through a formai petition of, say, 25,000 citizens).  Far from the Head of State being the start and end of the Republic story, however, the Democrats go much fùrther. At that same ballot the Democrats adopted a series of 11 principles within our Constitutional Reform policy. Those principles include:  • recognition of prior ownership of Australia by indigenous peoples;  • ensuring the flag cannot be changed without popular vote;  • inclusion of a Charter or Bill of Rights;  • provision for redefinition of the boundaries and powers of each tier of govemment (ie the potential to redefine states around smaller regional boundaries);  • no Ministers to corne from the Senate. Above ail, the Democrats believe in maximum public debate to decide the most appropriate Constitution to meet our needs as a society entering the 21st century.  More information on the Democrats' policies is available from the publications named throughout this booklet and from Issue Sheets. For copies» send this coupon to the Democrats' office in your state. Name:   Address:  Please send me:  0 The Democrats' Environment Pack Q The Democrats' Charter for Reform  (Ethics & Accountibility) Pack D The Democrats' Education Pack D The Democrats' Economie  Independence Pack  Other  Queensland: Australian Democrats,  PO Box 3715, South Brisbane, 4101.  Ph: (07) 3844-1426  NSW: Australian Democrats, PO Box 1257,  Crows Nest, 2065.  Ph: (02) 901 3711 Fax: (02) 437 4595  ACT: Australian Democrats, PO Box 438,  Civic Square, 2608.  South Australia: Australian Democrats,  711 South Road, Black Forest, 5035.  Ph: (08) 371 1441 Fax: (08) 293 4254  Victoria: Australian Democrats,  71 Smith Street, Fitzroy, 3065  Ph: (03) 9419 5085 Fax: (03) 9419 5697  Tasmania: Australian Democrats,  PO Box 336, North Hobart, 7002.  Western Australia; Australian Democrats,  175 Hay Street, East Peith, 6004.  Ph; (09). 221-7223 Fax: (09) 221 7113