JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT
Wednesday 24 August 2005

Twelfth Ministerial meeting of the Online Council

Ministers from the Australian and state governments, as well as representatives from the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), met in Perth today for the 12 th Ministerial meeting of the Online Council.

Governments were represented by:

Participating via video link from Sydney:

New South Wales The Hon. John Della Bosca MLC, Special Minister of State; Commerce; Industrial Relations; Ageing; Disability Services; Assistant Treasurer; Vice-President of the Executive

The Hon. Diane Beemer MP, Minister for Western Sydney,
Fair Trading, Assisting the Minister for Commerce

BROADBAND POLICY

The Ministers agreed that a coordinated and collaborative approach across governments remains the best and most cost-effective approach to achieving the broadband policy objectives of the National Broadband Strategy and improving our global competiteness. The Online Council recognised the significant investment in broadband infrastructure made by all levels of government and the work of the National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group (NBSIG) in coordinating the activities of the different levels of government.

The Council considers that while broadband take-up in Australia has gained considerable momentum in the past 12 months there is still much that governments can do to support the availability and effective use of broadband, particularly in key sectors such as health, education and local government. Ministers agreed that if Australia is to reap the gains that broadband can deliver, it must focus on strategies to coordinate the rollout of new and advanced networks and to better harness these networks for providing government services.

Council identified a number of priority areas for policy development. Working through the NBSIG, the Ministers agreed to:

• investigate ways to facilitate the rollout of new, advanced broadband networks especially in greenfields sites, for example, through the identification of different sustainable investment models;
• develop strategies, such as the development of new applications and content, that will improve broadband use in health, education, local government and other key sectors; and
• consider the effective use of broadband by government to improve the delivery of services.

While the states and territories reiterated their opposition to the sale of Telstra, Council agreed that state, territory and local governments will work collaboratively with the Australian Government on providing advice on areas of need and demand. This will inform the implementation, and have input into program design and evaluation of the initiatives announced on 17 August 2005 by Australian Government as part of the Connect Australia package. The $113 million Clever Networks program, especially, is premised on successful cross jurisdictional collaboration so that funding may be used in the most strategic and effective manner and fits with existing state, territory and local government strategies. Council agreed that making smart use of money to target areas of demonstrated need is necessary for the development of innovative broadband networks and innovative applications to improve the delivery of health, education and other essential services.

To assist this process, Council has asked the NBSIG to undertake an analysis of what can be achieved through the Clever Networks and Broadband Connect funding, including input into program design. This research will take into account, and determine areas of greatest demand and consideration of priorities for implementing this program in the health, education, local government and other key sectors. It will also focus on sustainable outcomes which include the use of new and emerging technologies.

BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) CAPABILITY

Ministers agreed that building and maintaining a sustainable, competitive and world-class ICT capability in Australia is a key issue for the Online Council. ICT is an enabler of innovation, competitiveness and productivity improvements across the economy and so plays an important role in national priority areas such as health, education, national security, water management and environmental sustainability.

Ministers agreed to collaborate on those issues that will both underpin a national ICT capability, and provide most leverage from a more coordinated and national approach:

• ICT priorities – identifying ICT priorities for industry and research, including continuing support for NICTA and the establishment of further collaboration linkages between NICTA and other ICT research facilities across Australia.
• ICT skills – reinforcing the importance of ICT skills in all sectors of the economy. For example by encouraging women to seek ICT careers; helping ICT professionals to keep their skills relevant and up-to-date; investigating opportunities for increased skills-related linkages; and facilitating partnerships with industry and professional organisations and between schools and industry.
• Government ICT procurement – by investigating opportunities to further align contracting arrangements. For example, in capping liability and in the development of shared principles on the commercialisation of ICT intellectual property.
• ICT trade and investment attraction – Online Council agrees that a new collaborative approach by governments is essential to more effectively promote Australia’s ICT capability internationally. This new approach will be guided by a set of principles established by the Information and Communications Technology and Information Economy Working Group and agreed to by Online Council. Online Council will move quickly to develop an action plan to support this new approach and consider strategies for greater collaboration with industry.
• ICT statistics – for example by working to develop a framework to improve the availability and timeliness of ICT-related data to improve the quality, range and accessibility of data on the economic impact of ICT, skills and research and of ICT education and training information.
• Software quality standards and accreditation – for example by facilitating improvements in the software development processes used by Australian companies and facilitating software quality accreditation where appropriate.
• Strengthening the digital content sector – for example helping industry to implement the Digital Content Industry Action Agenda. The Council also noted the trial by the New South Wales Government of datacasting over digital spectrum to provide government information services.

Ministers also agreed to work to raise the profile of ICT across the various agendas of governments, in particular with the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, the Australian Procurement and Construction Ministers Council and trade and industry ministers.

An officials working group will be established to take this long-term agenda forward in the context of the broader information economy agenda.

RESPONSE TO THE REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INQUIRY

Substantial progress has been made by the Australian Government to implement its response to the 39 recommendations made by the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry. A number of the recommendations involved working with state and territory governments through the Online Council to develop solutions to issues such as the ongoing viability of Online Access Centres and services for remote Indigenous communities.

Online Council noted that as at August 2005, 32 of the 39 RTI recommendations have been implemented. These include:

• formal undertakings by Telstra to: remediate its worst performing Exchange Service Areas; improve the performance of its pair gain systems; address dial-up data speed performance related to pair gain systems; and upgrade its remaining older radio concentrator systems;
• a number of funded programs to improve access to broadband services, terrestrial mobile phone coverage and alternative mobile phone services, and IT training and support services for regional Australians;
• enhanced telecommunications industry monitoring and reporting arrangements;
• improvements to fixed phone services, disability services, Internet services, payphones and consumer rights; and
• the imposition of a licence condition on Telstra requiring it to maintain a local commercial presence in regional Australia.

The outstanding recommendations, relating to regular reviews of regional telecommunications services, refinements to the Network Reliability Framework, and network extension and trenching cost issues are expected to be implemented by the end of the year.

Council also noted the new mobile telephony initiatives announced under Mobile Connect and that the Australian Government will continue its dual strategy of supporting the extension of terrestrial mobile phone infrastructure where services will have ongoing commercial viability; and continuing to provide satellite phone handset subsidies for people living or working in more remote areas. Further extension of terrestrial coverage through a mobile phone ‘black spots’ program will take place after interested parties, including State and Territory governments, are consulted on program design issues and priority regions. A tripartite funding approach will be taken which seeks funding contributions from carriers and communities or state governments.

COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Ministers noted the progress being made in implementing the Telecommunications Action Plan for Remote Indigenous Communities. In particular, members welcomed the provision of phones and computer packages with Internet access into communities with little or no communications services.

Ministers also noted that relevant state and territory governments, local government and the Australian Government are working closely to develop an agreed National Strategic Approach to improving access to services for Indigenous communities. A draft approach was considered by the Online Council and Ministers agreed that the next step would be to develop collaborative action plans for addressing identified issues.

Council agreed that it was important to continue working collectively in addressing the needs of remote Indigenous communities through the $90 million Backing Indigenous Ability package. This program will see an expansion of the community phones program, improved Internet and videoconferencing services which are critical for the delivery of government services, and training, content development and support to improve the use of communications services. The program will also restore ageing radio infrastructure and strengthen Indigenous television which play a significant role in sustaining the social fabric of Indigenous communities.

ONLINE ACCESS CENTRES

The Ministers noted that the work by the Online Access Centre Sustainability Working Group, in relation to the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry Recommendation 5.5, was complete. This work has included identifying and implementing a number of strategies to maintain the viability of online access centres (OACs) in regional Australia, including the development and promotion of web pages hosted through the DCITA Telinfo website ( http://www.telinfo.gov.au/CT/helping_telecentres_get_and_stay_online).

The Online Council recognised that OACs have been instrumental in delivering public access to the Internet, raising community awareness of new developments in ICT, and providing a local venue for ICT training and skills development. The Council also acknowledged the significant role OACs have performed in meeting a range of social and economic needs in regional, rural and remote communities. Many of these centres have become community and learning hubs providing educational, health, employment and business services.

The Ministers agreed that issues addressing the future viability of OACs fall within the portfolio responsibilities of a number of government departments and agencies at the state and Commonwealth levels, and it is therefore necessary for each of these organisations to maintain a range of mechanisms to address the sustainability of OACs. Recognising the contribution of OACs to community and skills development and capacity building, Online Council will continue to monitor the future viability of OACs. In particular, the Ministers recognised that OACs serving Indigenous communities clearly need ongoing attention due to their remote location, and the small size and social-economic disadvantages of the communities in which they reside.

In response to requests for continuing Commonwealth support for online access centres Minister Coonan agreed to consider the viability of the centres, within the context of the Working Group’s recommendations.

COLLABORATIVE GOVERNMENT

E-government policy is a strategic priority for the Online Council. The Council’s initiatives focus on supporting improved integrated service delivery to individuals, community groups and businesses by ensuring interoperability of ICT infrastructure within and across jurisdictions. This is fundamental to all governments to avoid an electronic version of the ‘rail gauge’ problems of the 19 th and 20 th centuries.

The Ministers agreed that the main challenge facing all governments now is how rapidly they can adapt to the opportunities for improving government online services.

Governments are working together to make more innovative use of new technology to simplify and improve access to government services. The Council, at its meeting today, endorsed the application of the National Service Improvement Framework and will use this framework to facilitate service improvement across Australia.

Access to online services is underpinned by authentication policies and procedures. The Council has agreed to adopt the Australian Government e-Authentication Framework (AGAF) to align national, state and territory policies. It provides a risk management approach to determining the level of assurance required to transact online with government. Released in March 2005, state and territory governments were involved closely in its development. The Council also welcomed the Australian Government’s review of its gatekeeper strategy for the use of public key infrastructure to reduce the cost and complexity of transacting with government and to more closely align it with the AGAF.

REVIEW OF ONLINE COUNCIL

Council endorsed the recommendations of the Online Council Review 2005. The Review was undertaken in accordance with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) review requirements. It was also undertaken with a view to revitalising the Online Council as the primary vehicle to identify and discuss online and communications policy issues that would benefit from cross-jurisdictional cooperation and coordination.

The Online Council agreed to re-structure membership to include the Special Minister of State, Senator Eric Abetz, and state and territory ministers who have portfolio responsibility for e-government matters.

Ministers agreed the strategic priorities for the Council will be: broadband policy; regional and indigenous communications services; ICT capability; e-security and online environment, e-government, and digital divide. The priority work will be taken forward by the working groups of the Online Council.

NAME CHANGE

The members of the Online Council agreed that it will now be known as the Online and Communications Council. The new name reflects the fact that Council’s deliberations embrace a broader information economy agenda, which is focused on both online and communications issues of strategic national significance.

Media contacts: Jane McMillan, Senator Coonan’s Office, 0438 690 305
Celia Hevesi, Council Secretariat, 0413 247 167
24 August 2005