086/05
27 July 2005

ICT Advisory Board starts work

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, chaired the first meeting of the ICT Advisory Board in Sydney today.

“I am confident after the first meeting, that the Board will provide the Government with a good source of independent, strategic advice on key issues likely to affect the information and communications technology (ICT) sector’s development,” Senator Coonan said.

“The advice I receive from the Board will complement advice from other members of the community who are involved in the ICT sector, such as ICT industry associations and individual firms. These are all valuable sources of advice.

“The Board’s first task is to assist in identifying ICT industry priorities to provide a focus for ICT development in Australia and to ensure that our research and commercialisation efforts are aligned with international opportunities.

“Establishing priorities will enable industry and government focusing their efforts to tap into international markets and sell a clear and uncomplicated message about the strengths of the Australian ICT industry,” Senator Coonan said.

“A range of priority-setting exercises in Australia and overseas were discussed at the first meeting to determine the best model and process for identifying ICT priorities.”

Senator Coonan described ICT as a key enabler for innovation across the economy.

“ICT has been a significant driver of recent productivity growth, and will be a critical factor in achieving the Government’s national priorities for health, the environment and security.”

“Public and private sector ICT research activities such as those of NICTA (National ICT Australia), the CSIRO and the Canon Information Systems Research Australia (CiSRA) are important to delivering the skills and know-how the economy needs to grow.

“The challenge then is to turn this Australian innovation into commercial success.”

The ICT Advisory Board is made up of experienced people from the ICT sector. They come from small-to-medium-sized firms and multinational companies, and from the research, training and education sectors.

“I am looking forward to a robust debate about how we identify what the priorities should be for Australia. I will also continue to consult widely with the Australian ICT sector on priorities for ICT,” Senator Coonan said.

The ICT Advisory Board members are Mr Grame Barty, Mr Ric Clark,
Ms Dominique Fisher, Mr John Grant, Ms Sheryle Moon, Mr Dan Phillips,
Dr Phil Robertson, Prof John Rosenberg and Dr Alex Zelinsky.