Australian Computer Society Innovation Forum
Australia ’s innovation capability is critical to our national economy and our global competitiveness.
The Howard Government is proud of the growth in the ICT industry since 1996; working collaboratively with the sector to develop an international reputation for leading-edge innovation and high-value adding.
This ICT potential is reflected in the 2007 Economist Intelligence Unit Report which ranks Australia fifth out of 64 countries for IT industry competitiveness.
We now have an ICT sector that contributes around 4.5% of Australia’s GDP.
But I know this is not news to many of the people in the room here today who have led the charge for Australia’s ICT industry.
And I also know it won’t come as a surprise when I say that that ICT innovation is estimated to have contributed to between 50 and 80 per cent of Australia’s productivity gains over the past two decades.
However, as we all know well, nothing in this sector stands still and our policy framework must also keep pace as ICT, and indeed innovation more broadly, has revolutionised the way we live and work in the new millennium.
Indeed, innovation has outgrown even the old definitions that limit its application to technological developments.
When it comes to innovation in the 21 st century the world is changing at an astounding pace and we have to stay ahead of the pack to drive Australia’s future productivity gains.
Innovation is the technological and non-technological advancement of ideas, products and activities.
It can be something as simple as applying existing knowledge in a different way or as complex as the architecture for a new fibre broadband network.
But essential to the fostering of innovation, is ‘getting the fundamentals right.’
A strong economy, low government debt, a skilled and flexible workforce and a taxation system that encourages enterprise and research are all essential for innovation.
I believe very strongly in enabling an aspirational innovation culture for Australia.
And I believe this culture is best fostered through a national innovation strategy for a whole of government approach, in close cooperation with industry stakeholders, and building on the landmark 2003, ‘Framework for the Future’, developed by this Government.
The key elements of this national innovation strategy will include:
- Business innovation and commercialisation that identifies our priorities for global linkages and export opportunities ;
- Forging the collaborations to drive innovation and ICT across the entire national economy. ICT must be at the forefront of providing solutions for Australians problems such as climate change, water management, drought proofing and innovation in the mining sector;
- ICT infrastructure that builds scale and scope and affordable access for all Australians, regardless of where they live or work;
- Skills for a 21 st century, innovation driven economy;
- Exploitation of the opportunities provided by convergence and reaping the digital dividend; and
- A regulatory environment that balances competition and consumer safeguards with the enabling of new investment.
Without innovation at the heart of the Australian economy, we are akin to the Tower of Babel without a single language… and we all know how that ended.
We Australians are a nation of innovators who have transcended the tyranny of distance to make our place in the world; and across a myriad of industries, we have carved a unique position in the global economy.
However, the pace of change is unrelenting and the technology revolution has transformed the old, and new economies.
To continue to drive Australia’s productivity and lock in our prosperity, we must have innovation at the very core of our national economy.
As Government, our clear role is to foster a vibrant, innovative and globally competitive ICT industry that can capitalise on future opportunities as they unfold.
The capture of investment and the commercialisation of technologies is critical to the exploitation of future opportunity and there can be do doubt that Government has a leadership role to play.
I am proud of Australia’s world leading ICT sector but I am also very aware that it cannot sustain its position without ongoing Government support, and policies that utilise the procurement power of government, the need for cross-government collaboration at all levels and an ambitious strategic framework.
As Minister, you have my strong commitment that on behalf of the Coalition we will continue to drive outcomes for Australia’s ICT Industry that will enable growth and capacity building as well as a competitive investment environment.
And in driving an entrepreneurship culture in ICT, we, as a nation, must be bold in promoting an ambitious vision for the ICT sector.
So as we move towards a Federal Election date some time soon, I will look forward to outlining in detail the Government’s innovation agenda and our blueprint for an ‘Intelligent Australia.’