AIIA slaps wrists of Victorian parties over ICT policies

Stan Beer
Thursday, 23 November 2006 15:38

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

“AIIA acknowledges the Labor Party’s focus on encouraging and supporting Victorian companies to enter the global marketplace.  In particular, the $4.8 million investment in the Opening Doors to Export program provides welcome support to those companies entering export markets for the first time.”

Ms Moon acknowledges the advances the Victorian Government has made in removing access barriers to the Victorian Government market, such as capping liability provisions in government contracting and default government ownership of intellectual property.

“The Labor Government has committed to continue to reduce red tape for ICT companies seeking to do business with government.  AIIA will work with a re-elected Bracks Government on the removal of other key procurement inhibitors to ensure this commitment is honoured,” says Sheryle Moon.

Ms Moon says that the ALP’s proposed Government ICT Market Reports will provide timely advice to companies regarding the activities and investments of government.  The reports will also enhance a new suite of reports, the Victorian Government ICT Reports, which will be delivered by AIIA and Dandolo Partners in 2007.  This service will provide the Australian ICT industry with rich qualitative information about the Victorian Government’s ICT expenditure plans.

On the industry development front, Labor’s ICT Industry Plan 2005 – 2010 commits $1 million to industry collaboration.

“Industry has identified clusters and collaboration as important tools for industry growth, so this proposed government support is important in furthering this activity.  AIIA’s CollabIT program is providing a framework and series of activities to deliver benefit to participants through clustering, and we would welcome further backing from government,” Ms Moon says.

Labor’s skills initiatives focus on scholarships and industry based learning.  There is also a welcome focus on additional funds for the teaching of maths and science.

“We need to ensure more young people are taking the kinds of subjects which will lead them to a career in the ICT industry,” Ms Moon said.

“AIIA would also have hoped for an ongoing commitment to the ICT: Start Here, Go Anywhere program which was successful in increasing tertiary enrolments this year.”

AIIA also views the merger of the Office of the CIO (with its key strategic and policy focus) with Multimedia Victoria as important in further emphasising the government’s focus on ICT.

Ms Moon said that it was more difficult to assess the Liberal Party’s proposals as the information regarding how the initiatives would be delivered or what level of funding would be available to support them was not fully formed.

“The Liberal Party has indicated a strong willingness to support the high-tech industries – both ICT and biotechnology.  However, greater clarity around delivery of their policy proposals is required.

“For example, their response indicates support for industry niches where Victoria has a competitive advantage.  There are, however, no indications of which industry niches the Liberal Party would support.  Industry requires more information about how this policy might be delivered in practice.

“Similarly, what advantages does the Liberal Party see in the merger of innovation activities with MMV, or the establishment of an Office of Chief Scientist?”

The Liberal Party has indicated that availability of broadband is important for regional Victoria.  AIIA is supportive of this view as broadband is a critical imperative for Victoria to have an ICT enabled workforce to support all industries.  However, Ms Moon explains that there is no indication as to how a Liberal Government would promote the rollout of broadband or what, if any, funding would be available.

“AIIA does commend the support that the Liberal Party has given to the development of a long term e-waste strategy, Ms Moon says.

“On balance, given the level of detail regarding their programs and the underpinning funding information, it would appear that Labor has articulated a more substantial commitment to the ICT industry,” Sheryle Moon concludes.