Coonan's Clayton's Clever Networks announcement

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 17 April 2007 11:22

Opinion and Analysis

Communications minister Helen Coonan, has announced that sixteen projects have been successful under the first round of funding for the $113 million Clever Networks program, but is keeping mum on what they are.

After opening with the announcement of the funding, her press release then continued: "Senator Coonan said the following projects funded under the Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund (CCIF) provide a great example of what might be achieved under the Clever Networks Program."

The release listed these as: Charles Darwin University's CCIF project; The Loddon Connect CCIF project and The District Council of the Yorke Peninsula CCIF project. All of these were announced long ago. So what of the 16 successful Clever Networks projects clever enough to score funding?

The minister tantalised with tidbits: "improved technology in public hospitals and health care facilities...remote diagnostic services to local communities and rural homesteads...improved care and services to clients of health and disability services...improved communications to better deliver local business and community-wide benefits in regional centres...[support for] integrated emergency services management to improve coordination of police, fire and emergency services...enhanced broadband connections to many regional and remote schools."

So is she going to tell us what they are? No way. Not now and not with an election coming up and presenting the opportunity to woo voters in areas likely to benefit from the latest handouts.

"I will be announcing the successful projects individually over coming weeks," she said.