ACS Renew Calls for IT Vision in Wake of New Research
Wednesday 12 March 1997 - "The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has pointed to new research by management consultants, McKinsey & Co, which backs up its call for the Federal Government to develop a strategic IT vision for Australia.
The McKinsey report, prepared for the Australian Coalition of Service Industries, found that Australia has missed out on wealth-generating opportunities worth up to $40 billion by failing to secure a foothold in the IT industry.
It urged government and business leaders to develop an action plan to ensure the same mistake is not made with the fast-growing on-line economy.
"Our own research clearly shows that Australia has a limited window of opportunity in which to establish itself as a key regional player in this sector and reap the financial benefits.
"This will not happen without strong and direct support from the Government," said ACS Vice-President, Prins Ralston, who coordinated the ACS Strategic Vision Submission to the Federal Government’s Information Industries Task Force.
The McKinsey report also highlighted the threat to Australia’s service sector from potentially devastating competition from companies operating on the Internet.
The ACS is calling for a single IT&T Industry portfolio at both Federal and State levels of Government to handle all technology-related issues and avoid the confusion and double-handing that currently occurs.
"We believe a single, Cabinet-level Ministry would help to give IT&T the recognition and focus it needs as a major growth sector, and one which has the potential to impact hugely on Australia’s current and future economy," said Mr Ralston.
"This Ministry should have industry development objectives similar to those which have proved so successful for the Primary Industry portfolios at State and Federal level."
Reports last week in the Far Eastern Asian Review highlighted the massive investment being made in IT&T throughout the Asian Region, with Thailand, Malaysia, China and Indonesia all competing to develop infrastructure and incentivise their local industries.
"If Australia does not take an equally aggressive attitude towards develop our own IT&T industry and infrastructure, we will miss out on the many opportunities becoming available and be relegated to an insignificant future," he warned.
An electronic version of this media release is available on the Web at: http://www.acs.org.au/news/mckinsey.htm
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Prins Ralston, ACS Vice President, Tel: (0889) 466 264 or (0418) 898 456, Email: p_ralston@darwin.ntu.edu.au
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9630 2108 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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