020/06
27 March 2006

$36.6 million for Backing Indigenous Ability

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today released a discussion paper outlining proposals to improve Indigenous telecommunications services as part of the Australian Government’s Backing Indigenous Ability program.

“Telecommunications is an enabling technology which plays an increasingly important role in the whole of government strategic approach to delivering services to Indigenous communities,” Senator Coonan said.

“By providing $36.6 million for the Backing Indigenous Ability program the Australian Government will help Indigenous communities access phones, Internet and videoconferencing in regional, rural and remote Australia.

“With almost four times the amount of funding allocated to the previous Telecommunications Action Plan for Remote Indigenous Communities, Backing Indigenous Ability reinforces the Government commitment to Indigenous telecommunications.”

Backing Indigenous Ability will ensure that Indigenous communities have access to telecommunications services to participate in Australia’s economic, social and cultural activity.

Initiatives such as Backing Indigenous Ability will also enable Indigenous communities to make decisions as to how they use telecommunications to communicate with each other, and interact with mainstream Australia.

Backing Indigenous Ability is one of the four programs under the Australian Government’s $3.1 billion Connect Australia package announced last year. The other programs—Broadband Connect, Clever Networks and Mobile Connect—have conducted separate consultations. However, it is hoped that stakeholders will consider the possible linkages between the four programs in respect of their Backing Indigenous Ability submissions.

The discussion paper identifies and seeks comment on issues such as access, affordability, awareness, appropriateness and sustainability in providing a range of telecommunications services to Indigenous communities and how best they might be achieved.

Submissions are encouraged from Indigenous communities, the telecommunications industry, other interested stakeholders and members of the public on the design and implementation of the program. Submissions are due by COB on 19 May 2006.

The discussion paper is available online at www.dcita.gov.au/communications_for_business/funding_programs__and__support/connect_australia/backing_indigenous_ability