Federal Budget Offers Little for ICT, says ACS

Thursday 15 May 2003 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has queried the Government's commitment to the outcomes of recent working groups like the Framework for the Future and the Broadband Advisory Group in the wake of the Federal Budget.

While acknowledging that national security and defence were always going to be key issues to this Budget, ACS President Richard Hogg said there were little additional resources allocated in the Budget to help to grow the struggling ICT sector.

"We welcome funding to upgrade ICT facilities and resources within our security organisations, but question budget cuts to NOIE and NetAlert, as well as the lack of any initiatives relating to the F3 and BAG committees' recommendations," he said.

"While Senator Alston has publicly commented that these reports were only a framework for future initiatives, the fact that no specific funding has been allocated for programs stemming from these reports is disappointed.

"I also wonder how we are to continue encouraging our young people into tertiary education and building our knowledge competencies when the cost of education keeps rising," he said.

"The Government seems happy to encourage Australia's reliance on high numbers of full fee paying students from overseas, many of whom are studying ICT, but we need greater focus on developing more local skills for this sector."

Mr Hogg also pointed to comments by ALP Senator Kate Lundy about the Building on IT Strengths program, which has no guaranteed funding beyond June next year.

"The BITS incubator program is critical to help increase our success rate at commercialising Australian innovations and as such, must be provided with on-going support from the Government," he said.

This media release is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/150503.htm

ENDS

About the Australian Computer Society: The ACS is the recognised association for information technology (IT) professionals, attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the IT industry and providing a wide range of services to its 16,000+ members. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the public voice of the IT profession and the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the IT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT. See the ACS Home Page for more information.

Media Enquiries:

Richard Hogg, ACS National President, Tel: (0408) 549 531, Email: richard_hogg@acslink.net.au

Caroline New, ACS PR Consultant, Tel: (02) 9555 1986 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au