025/05
1 April 2005

Inaugural meeting of telework advisory committee

The Australian Telework Advisory Committee (ATAC) met for the first time in Canberra yesterday to help improve flexible working arrangement for Australian workers and businesses, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said today.

"The inaugural meeting of ATAC represents an important first step by industry and the public sector to address the challenges of telework and develop opportunities for the Australian workforce and employers," Senator Coonan said.

Telework refers to activities, enabled by information and communication technology (ICT), that contractors and employees perform away from or independently of an employer's primary work site.

"The Government's ICT election policy, 'Connecting an Innovative Australia', made a commitment to establish a taskforce on teleworking and home-based business to advise on options and impediments for employees and businesses," Senator Coonan said.

"I'm pleased to report that the committee has made a good start and plans significant engagement with the community as part of the process.

"Over coming months, ATAC will take submissions from the public, provide consultative forums for key stakeholders and will meet individually with key stakeholders and state and territory agencies to discuss their experience.

"I urge interested parties to take up this opportunity to put forward their ideas on how industry and governments can help the community achieve a better balance between work and life through increased flexibility in the workplace."

ATAC is required to assess the current trends in telework adoption, identify the impact of increased adoption and propose strategies to support greater use of telework practices.

The committee is expected to meet in July, September and November 2005 with a final report to the Government due by 28 February 2006.

Further information on ATAC and the process for making submissions is available at www.dcita.gov.au