ACS Drives ICT Policy Debate
Wednesday 26 June 2002 - The Australian Computer Society has moved to drive debate over government policies affecting the Information and Communications Technology industry with the release of a new research report.
"ICT Development in Australia - A Strategic Policy Review not only looks at all the major ICT-related policy recommendations made in recent years, but highlights a range of initiatives the ACS believes are necessary to stimulate growth in Australia's ICT industry.
ACS President Richard Hogg said the new report will provide the impetus for industry stakeholders to comment on where the industry is heading and what measures are most likely to assist.
"The last major ACS review of ICT policy was conducted in 1997 so this new report is long overdue and brings a valuable perspective to the on-going debate," he said.
"The recommendations centre on the need to devise a Strategic Framework that focuses leadership and vision through strategies that support leading edge ICT production and encourage the creation and growth of ICT businesses while providing the scale that has been missing to date. That needs to start with a greater emphasis at all levels supporting local ICT SMEs, which in turn will promote job growth."
The ACS launched the report in a series of lunches to which it has invited prominent industry representatives, analysts, media and ICT professionals to contribute to discussions about the industry's future.
"We are providing copies of the report to the Federal Government's new ICT Framework Committee and will use the document as the foundation for meetings with ACS members to gain their thoughts on strategies to assist the industry. This is critical input that has been requested by the Committee," Mr Hogg said.
According to the report's author, Professor Houghton of the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, the recent decline in Australian ICT manufacturing and the enormous ICT trade deficit are cause for significant concern.
"As far back as the Goldsworthy Report in 1997, it was clear that Australia must be both a user and producer of ICT goods and services, and that we must provide appropriate incentives to encourage investment if we want to develop ICT suppliers of any scale," he said.
"Both the Science Council and Australia's Chief Scientist have made statements to this effect in the past 12 months. The report comprises three flagship initiatives with over 50 suggestions for priority actions to help achieve them."
The flagship initiatives outlined in the report are:
Platform for Production - by establishing a platform for production to support both ICT producing and using industries by fostering innovation, developing the infrastructure and regulatory framework, and enhancing skills and professionalism;
Building Businesses - by fostering business improvement, enabling market access and expansion, and actively facilitating cluster development; and
Achieving Scale - by creating an attracting investment environment, establishing a strategic investment fund, and engaging in pro-active investment attraction.
"This report does not claim to have all the answers, but rather seeks to provide a starting point for honest assessment of where we are now and where we need to go in order to achieve our goals of having a world-class ICT industry," said Mr Hogg.
Key measures proposed in the report include:
"According to the OECD, those nations which were the largest producers of ICTs during the 1990s enjoyed higher levels of productivity growth," said Mr Hogg.
"Add to that statements from the US Chamber of Commerce to the effect that ICT producing industries continue to contribute disproportionately to economic growth, and the value of growing this industry sector cannot be denied," he said.
This media release is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/260602.htm
Download (pdf file) The complete Houghton Report
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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
John Houghton, Professorial Fellow (CSES), Tel: (02) 6282 1981 or (0409) 239 109, Email: John.Houghton@pobox.com
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9555 1986 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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