Media Release by Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion

Disappointment as Youth Week used as political platform

Minister for Community Services, Nigel Scullion, said he was disappointed the ACT Labor Government had allowed National Youth Week to be used as a platform to push Federal Labor propaganda onto young people.

The Daily Telegraph (p3) today reported that material attacking WorkChoices was put in bags marked with an ACT Government logo and handed out to Youth Week participants.

‘This is grubby politics from a Labor Government which has closed schools,’ Senator Scullion said.

‘National Youth Week is a bipartisan event funded by all levels of Government and celebrated right across this country. Those attending Youth Week do so in an expectation that the focus will be on the achievements of young people, not for party political purposes or as an excuse to campaign for the election of a Rudd Labor Government.

‘I would urge the ACT Government to focus it’s energies on providing good policy for the youth of Canberra and leave the political campaigning out of Youth Week,’ Senator Scullion said.