Media release: Obesity – Government neglects weighty issue

09 December 2005
“The Howard Government’s decade-long neglect of childhood obesity in this country represents a serious failure to address one of the most significant health issues we face, namely, a growing epidemic of overweight and obese young people,” the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: The waiting game on resale royalties

01 December 2005
“Today’s article in The Australian, ‘Ruddock Unready to Decide on Resale Royalties for Visual Art’, which reveals the government’s decision on a resale royalties for visual arts scheme has been delayed will further frustrate Indigenous artists and the visual arts community who have been waiting two and half years for the government to address this issue, Labor spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Aussie creativity under shadow of sedition

28 November 2005
“The AFI Awards have capped off a wonderful year for Australia’s film industry,” Labor’s Arts Spokesman, Peter Garrett, said today. “The success of a number of top Aussie films this year gives renewed confidence that the fortunes of the industry are improving despite recent low box office takings and indifferent support from the Howard Government.”

Media release: Sense over sedition - Artist’s concern vindicated by bi-partisan report

28 November 2005
The Labor spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett said today, “Four weeks ago I sought legal opinion on the likely impact on freedom of expression of the sedition clauses in the new Anti-Terror Bill 2005. That opinion found the clauses could lead to artist’s being prosecuted for their free expression.

Media release: Inside Film awards

24 November 2005
“Congratulations to all the winners of the seventh annual IF Awards especially John Hillcoat and Nick Cave for ‘The Proposition’,” Labor Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today. “The success of the awards and the depth of talent on show is further evidence of a very welcome mini-renaissance of the Australian film industry.”

Media release: No support for artists from Minister

18 November 2005
The Arts Minister, Senator Rod Kemp, is providing no support for the Australian arts community as concern grows about the inclusion of proposed sedition clauses in the Anti -Terrorism Bill (No 2) 2005, Labor Arts spokesman Peter Garrett said today.

Article: We’re looking for a new wave of respect down on the beach, Sun Herald

18 November 2005

Media release: Devil in the detail

11 November 2005

“Vigorous debate in the Parliament this week has thrown light on the alarming amount of ‘devil in the detail’ in the industrial relations legislation. In my speech to the House I highlighted the inevitable outcome of drastic changes to our system. In NSW alone there are some 40,000 employees covered by the Club Employees (State) Award, many of whom live in my electorate.

Media release: Answers still needed on terrorism bills

30 October 2005
In response to a question asked by Laurie Oakes on today’s Sunday program in regard to a legal opinion I had obtained on restrictions on freedom of expression under the proposed new terrorism laws the Prime Minister said “… there is no way that these sedition laws in any way will curtail legitimate free speech”

Media release: Reconciliation over Revenue

27 October 2005
“I welcome the decision by the Australian Tax Office not to tax elderly Aborigines and their descendants compensated by the NSW Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme.” 

Media release: Congratulations to ARIA award winners

25 October 2005
The 2005 ARIA Awards, held last night in Sydney, saluted the best and most successful contemporary music acts in the country.

Media release: Practical reconciliation - Treasurer it's your turn

25 October 2005
“Treasurer Peter Costello has been presented with a great opportunity to show his commitment to Reconciliation,” Peter Garrett said today.

Media release: Australia gone missing following landmark UN vote

21 October 2005
Last night in Paris 148 countries to 2 – the US and Israel opposing- voted in favour of the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity.

Media release: Labor Arts spokesman addresses Currency House

20 October 2005
In a wide ranging address to Currency House in Sydney, ALP Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today that it was time to move on from the false debate which pits the Arts against sport.

Media release: Port Botany expansion

14 October 2005
"Any expansion of Port Botany needs to take into account the potential impact on the environment during its construction and operation."

Media release: Telstra is not the answer, proper Government funding is

13 October 2005
Labor welcomes the release of National Gallery of Australia (NGA) director Ron Radford's Vision Paper. There is much to commend, including the commitment to amplify the Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Island component of the collection.

Media release: Government moving to disenfranchise voters

12 October 2005
“Recommendations from the government dominated Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will, if implemented, disenfranchise voters at the next federal election,” the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Deadly Awards going from strength to strength

23 September 2005
“The 11th annual Deadly Awards showcased a real depth of talent in the arts and sport amongst the Indigenous community”, the Federal Member for Kingsford Smith and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Government exposed by Wheeler report

22 September 2005
“The Wheeler report has exposed the Howard Government’s uncoordinated and inadequate approach to airport security”, the Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Rising petrol prices a hit on families

16 September 2005
“The pain that families are feeling from the soaring price of petrol is reflected in the recent Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment”, the Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: NSW Parliament Indigenous Art Prize recipient a worthy winner

14 September 2005
“It gives me great pleasure to extend my congratulations to Esme Timbery, this year’s winner of the inaugural Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Prize”, the Member for Kingsford Smith and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: COFA 2005 Spring Fair a must see

09 September 2005
“This year’s annual College of Fine Arts Spring Fair shapes up as one of the best”, the Federal Member for Kingsford Smith and Opposition Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today as he launched the special exhibition, Field Trip.

Media release: Government’s industrial relations changes could make pensioners worse off

09 September 2005
“Under the Howard Government’s proposed extreme industrial relations laws the less well-off in the community may face a decline in their living standards”, the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: The passing of Donald Horne

08 September 2005
“The passing of Donald Horne today means Australia has lost one of our great public intellectuals”, Peter Garrett, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, said today.

Media release: NT Indigenous Music Awards a winner

29 August 2005
“The Northern Territory’s second annual Indigenous Music Awards, held in Darwin on the weekend, showed the great depth and continuing rise of indigenous music,” Labor Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Government deludes itself into thinking its fixing the Aussie screen industry

26 August 2005
“The release of the Australian Film Commission’s annual survey of film and TV production is another sign that the Government’s policies on the local film industry are not working”, Labor’s Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Ruddock should fast-track resale royalty legislation for visual artists

25 August 2005
“Recent sales of artworks by indigenous artists for sums many times more than their original purchase price again highlights the urgent need for the Howard Government to introduce resale royalty legislation into the Parliament this year”, Labor Spokesman for the Arts, Peter Garrett, said today.

Media release: Increased security measures at Port Botany to be welcomed

24 August 2005
“Increases in security measures announced by the New South Wales Government this week are welcome and necessary”, the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today. “I’m pleased that the concerns of residents have been heard.”

Media release: Labor seeks to save services at UNSW

23 August 2005

Media release: Kingsford Smith does its bit for the Aussie film industry

19 August 2005

Joint media release: VCA HECS Hikes Hit Australian Arts Hard

06 July 2005
Education Minister Brendan Nelson’s refusal to properly fund universities has forced the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to announce a 25 per cent HECS hike that may cause serious damage to Australian arts and culture.

Media release: Garrett urges Commonwealth action on cane toads

23 June 2005
Peter Garrett has today called on the Federal Government to take urgent action to halt the advance of the cane toad into the ecologically sensitive Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Media release: Where is the government on Malabar Headland?

07 June 2005
The Federal Government is stalling on a decision regarding Malabar Headland, the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today after receiving an unsatisfactory response to the thirty six questions he put on the notice paper.

Media release: Security concerns at Sydney transport hubs

02 June 2005
The Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, has today once again raised his strong concerns over the level of security at both Port Botany and Sydney Airport.

Media release: No commitment to end Japanese whaling

08 May 2005
The Member for Kingsford Smith today asked the Prime Minister in Question Time, whether he was aware of a statement made by Australian officials to the IWC in 2000 that “... Japan might not be acting properly within its legal rights when it issues scientific permits”.

Article: Nukes not the answer to the greenhouse threat, The Age

28 April 2005

Media release: Sydney Airport development highlights planning anomalies and lack of community consultation

21 April 2005
The Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, has voiced his strong concern over the Transport Minister’s decision to allow Sydney Airport to build an enormous expansion of the airport’s commercial footprint, including an 8000 space car park and two commercial tower blocks.

Media release: Concern about toxic plume threatening Botany Bay area

31 March 2005
The Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, has today expressed his concern over a newspaper report that states the toxic plume, threatening the Botany area, is spreading.

Media release: Sydney Children’s Hospital still waiting for MRI licence

22 March 2005
The Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, has today welcomed the visit from Labor’s Shadow Health Minister, Julia Gillard, to the Children’s Hospital in Randwick. “I’m very pleased Julia Gillard is able to see first hand one of Sydney’s most important hospitals.”

Media release: Prime Minister's reponse to Skills at Work report

10 March 2005
Peter drew an interesting admission from the Prime Minister when he asked him, in Question Time on 10 March, a question regarding the government's recently released Skills at work report on new apprenticeships.

Media release: Bulk-billing in Kingsford Smith

16 February 2005
The Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today he was concerned at the further decline in bulk billing rates in the electorate, “I’m alarmed at the slide in bulk billing in Kingsford Smith that the latest Medicare figures reveal.”

Media release: WAVEAID raises $2.3 million for tsunami victims

15 February 2005
The Australian music industry was proud to hand over four cheques ($576,118 each) to Marc Thompson (Australian Red Cross), Andrew Hewett and Adrian Kinslor (Oxfam Community Aid Abroad), Carolyn Hardy and Kate Mayhew (UNICEF), and Robert Glasser (CARE Australia) to help the victims of the Asian tsunami.