Senator KEMP (Minister for the Arts and Sport) (8:10 PM) —I will make a brief a comment on Senator Lundy's speech this evening. All of us deplore the reports in newspapers about what are alleged to be cultural attitudes in some of our sports and, clearly, they have got to be stamped out. Our political leaders have all made statements on this particular issue. It is important, as Senator Lundy said, for people, particularly sportsmen, to speak out about this, and I refer Senator Lundy to an article by Jim Stynes today in the Herald Sun headed up `Footy's silent victims'.

This evening I want to turn to other comments that Senator Lundy has made in recent times which I believe are very unfair to large numbers of Australians. They are unfair to the AIS and I think they should be countered. Senator Lundy will be forever remembered as the shadow sports minister who tried to put a four-lane highway through the Australian Institute of Sport. That was defeated, and very sensibly so. But, to this very day, Senator Lundy has refused to acknowledge the absurdity of that policy and has taken no steps to explain.

Another thing Senator Lundy has done in recent times is denigrate the research which has been done by Australian scientists into antidoping in sport. I have cautioned Senator Lundy before that sometimes her research lacks the required depth. I regret to say that Senator Lundy sometimes reads speeches which have been written for her on these matters without carefully weighing up the facts. This evening I want to point out to those who believe what Senator Lundy has said that she denigrates not only the activities of this government—which, of course, Senator Lundy is quite entitled to do—but also the very important work that Australian scientists are carrying out into antidoping in sport.

A number of specific claims were made by Senator Lundy. Let me just deal with one of them first. Senator Lundy made a broad, sweeping comment that when it comes to antidoping research the government has `effectively relegated Australia to the position of disciple rather than Messiah'. Someone wrote those lines for her but, to my mind, it is very unfair. Nothing could be further from the truth, Senator Lundy. Indeed this government has a very proud track record in the fight against drugs in sport and remains a world leader in antidoping research. Within Australia significant antidoping research of international acclaim has been carried out over the past five years and continues to be carried out. This is a direct result of the government's significant commitment to the fight against drugs. Senator Lundy, I believe, has become aware—but it would be hard to judge this from her public comments—that funding for antidoping research in Australia is at record levels. Senator Lundy can see no achievements, but I am advised by ASDA that this research has resulted in significant advances in such areas as detection methods for haemoglobin based oxygen carriers, so-called HBOCs, a new group of substances with a similar performance effect to EPO; certified reference materials for all WADA accredited laboratories to underpin testing for banned substances, including the development of materials for THG detection; and, very importantly, significant advances in the detection of human growth hormone.

You can contrast this with what was happening prior to 1996 when Labor was in office. Activity in this area was minimal, even though I am advised that human growth hormone and EPO were known substances of abuse in sport at that time. In 1998-99 the government commenced funding for antidoping research in the lead-up to the Sydney Games. We did this because we knew that the integrity of the games could be threatened by the use of banned substances and we recognised that we had an opportunity to progress the world effort in this area.

Over $3 million is being invested in research that is being conducted in Australia by Australian scientists from Australian institutions such as the Australian Government Analytical Laboratory, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the Kolling Institute of Medical Research and the Anzac Research Institute, to name but a few. These are internationally acclaimed institutions conducting world-class antidoping research. Over the years, Australian researchers have undertaken published research into improved detection and confirmation of stimulants, diuretics, narcotics, steroids, peptide hormones and oxygen delivery systems. The Australian government also continues to support the World Anti-Doping Agency which funds antidoping research.

Australian researchers have competed against tough international competition and successfully won over $US2 million in WADA grants to conduct antidoping research. This is a very different picture from that which Senator Lundy has painted. It is a picture of increased funds, increased activity and increased achievement. None of this was recognised by Senator Lundy, all in the attempt to make some cheap political point. As I said, it is okay for Senator Lundy to attack this government but she should not denigrate the work of Australian scientists.

I believe the government record speaks for itself and puts to rest Senator Lundy's astonishing claim in the media a few weeks ago that she has seen no evidence of research being started or completed in Australia. How could Senator Lundy make such an utterly absurd statement? Senator Lundy also said yesterday that the Australian government had chosen to enforce a ban on world leading research. I can only assume Senator Lundy is basing her claim on some absurd press reports, but Senator Lundy's claim is not true. The Australian Institute of Sport is a world-class centre of excellence in the training and the development of elite athletes and coaches. The government did not want there to be any risk of actual or perceived conflict of interest occurring by conducting antidoping research in facilities such as the AIS whose primary charter is to foster and develop the talents of elite athletes.

I would like to make it perfectly clear that this government has not banned AIS scientists from undertaking antidoping research. What scientists cannot do is undertake antidoping research in-house at the AIS. The government's policy enables AIS scientists to contribute their expertise and collaborate with external institutions conducting antidoping research. Senator Lundy describes this move, which we believe was a principled move, as `totally inexplicable and unjustified'. I say to Senator Lundy that when Labor was in government the ALP recognised that the reputation of the AIS was paramount and, to protect it and Australian sport generally from allegations about conflict of interest in drug testing, an independent authority the Australian Sports Drug Agency was established.

Let me deal with a number of other points in the brief time I have available. Senator Lundy said yesterday:

Under a directive issued in April 2001 by the then Minister for Sport and Tourism, the AIS scientists were ordered to cease any further work on blood doping research and to confine their participation in antidoping research to intellectual property.

I believe Senator Lundy is again wrong and she has chosen quite deliberately to ignore a response I gave in Senate estimates hearings when this issue arose. What I said at this time was:

Senator Lundy also said that the government should play an integral role in providing support for the work of those fighting to develop detection tests to stay ahead of drug cheats. If Senator Lundy had done her homework, she would know that this government is playing an integral role in supporting the work of those who are fighting to develop detection tests to stay ahead of drug cheats. There has been no diminution in the Australian government's commitment to antidoping research or in our commitment to achieving a sporting environment free from performance enhancing substances and doping methods.

It is most unfortunate to have misleading comments and slurs against Australia's antidoping efforts in the lead-up to the Athens Olympic Games. The government has a proud record in promoting and funding antidoping research. The evidence is there for all to see on the departmental web site. Senator Lundy has launched a most unjustified attack based on no proper research of her own. She has obviously taken information from others and not bothered to check this information out. If she had bothered to do so, she would have seen that funding of antidoping research is at record levels—I believe—in thiscountry, she would have been able to note the significant achievements which have been made and she would have avoided making a slur against Australia's significant efforts in this regard.

The PRESIDENT —I wish all those people here tonight a happy and holy Easter.

Senate adjourned at 8.21 p.m.