AIIA squares up for election fight

Beverley Head
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 19:14

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The nation’s peak ICT industry body has entered the election fray, warning politicians that Australia can’t rely on a resources boom forever, and that they must strengthen the nation’s digital economy.

The Australian Information Industry Association published an open letter in a national newspaper today explaining why ICT is critical to Australia’s future and deserves more focus during the last stages of the election campaign.

Earlier today AIIA ceo Ian Birks also challenged Labor minister Stephen Conroy, Coalition spokesman Tony Smith, and Greens Senator Scott Ludlam during a National Press Club debate sponsored by the Australian Computer Society, to explain what sorts of applications they thought might be possible if the nation had improved broadband access.

Mr Birks said that the debate about broadband thus far had concentrated on the “train tracks” that would be laid down as faster broadband was rolled out, rather than how the networks might be used by business and citizens. He called for more detail on policies from all parties indicating how faster networks might be utilised.

In his letter published in this morning’s Australian Financial Review Mr Birks outlined the importance of the ICT sector to Australia and said that “Our members are very concerned at the lack of debate on these critical issues in the election.” He criticised the short term nature of the current debate, warning that this “could allow decisions following the election that will compromise our nation’s future prosperity.”

Mr Birks suggested this was important as Australia needed to invest “for the post resources period we will ultimately enter over time.” He called on all the parties to elevate the level of debate during the final stage of the election campaign.

The Coalition released its ICT policies this morning which have shed more light on its plans, and the three way debate held this afternoon clarified some of the quite stark differences in the parties’ approach to ICT.