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21 November 2005

Positive outcome and Awards for Australia at World Summit in Tunis

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan has welcomed the outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held 16–18 November in Tunis.

“The Summit has had a positive impact on the continued development of an open, accessible, secure and dynamic Internet,” Senator Coonan said.

Three Australian digital content developers were also the recipients of international awards at the World Summit Awards held during WSIS.

Attended by more than 15,000 delegates from 176 countries, including Australia, the Summit focused on Internet governance issues and the use of ICT for development.

“Agreement was reached on a range of very complex issues which had proven difficult throughout the Summit process,” Senator Coonan said.

Consistent with Australia’s position, the Summit concluded that the existing multi-stakeholder arrangements for Internet governance, which give the private sector the leading role in day-to-day Internet operations, had made the Internet a highly robust, dynamic, open medium, with global reach.

The Summit endorsed the current framework for Internet governance but recognised the need for a responsive process and an ongoing evolution of these arrangements.

“This is a laudable achievement given the diverse range of interests represented at this high-level UN process,” Senator Coonan said.

“Australia’s active engagement in this process has ensured that our interest in preserving an operationally stable, secure and innovation-orientated Internet has been met.”

The Summit also called for renewed efforts to tackle issues of Internet use and misuse like spam, cybersecurity, cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, privacy and consumer protection of real concern to everyday Internet users. This was another Australian priority at the Summit.

The Summit endorsed the convening in 2006 of a new multi-stakeholder forum, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGF will be a neutral, non-duplicative and non-binding process to identify and explore Internet-related issues and to build commitment to action where required. Importantly, consistent with the Summit’s endorsement of the current Internet governance framework, the IGF will have no oversight function.

Australian stakeholders are encouraged to work closely with the Government to ensure the IGF best meets Australia’s interests in preserving an open, secure and dynamic Internet.

World Summit Awards

The Minister also congratulated the Australian winners of the 2005 World Summit Awards announced on 17 November during WSIS.

“The three award winners have showcased the potential of the Australian digital content industry to a truly global audience,” Senator Coonan said.

The World Summit Awards are a global contest highlighting the possibilities of digital content and interactive media, improving the accessibility of educational, scientific and cultural material.

“More than 30 international experts evaluated over 750 digital content projects from 168 countries to find the best 40 from around the world—three of which were from Australia,” Senator Coonan said.

The winning Australian projects were:

• Brisbane City Council’s Green Home developed by Mark White—an online 3D interactive house illustrating key messages about household sustainability;
• Vibewire developed by Tom Dawkins—a volunteer-based enterprise designed to empower young people to express themselves on the issues, cultures and ideas important to them; and
• An interactive CD-ROM in the e-Health area developed by Jennie Swain and Lisa Logan that explores issues of sexuality covering a range of topics for young people including body image, young mothers, and safe sex.

Further details on the outcomes of WSIS, including Australian interventions, are available from www.wsis.org and via www.dcita.gov.au.