Media Release

Sixteenth Online and Communications Council Communiqué

Joint Communiqué

Friday, 12 December 2008

Australian Government, state and territory Ministers and the Australian Local Government Association met in Melbourne today for the 16th meeting of the Online and Communications Council.

Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy chaired the meeting. The acting Victorian Minister for Information and Communication Technology hosted the meeting.

Governments were represented by:

The Hon. Troy Buswell MLA (Treasurer and Minister for Commerce; Science and Innovation; Housing and Works) from Western Australia tendered his apology. Minister Buswell provided written input on key issues to the Chair of the meeting.

An apology was also received from the Hon. Lindsay Tanner MP, Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy chaired the e-government agenda items on his behalf.

Promoting greater collaboration between jurisdictions

Framework for the collaborative development and use of broadband in Australia

Online and Communications Council members agreed at their last meeting that it is timely that Australia adopts a clearly-defined national framework for broadband development and use, given the future roll-out of the National Broadband Network, and the investment by all levels of government in telecommunications initiatives.

The framework outlines the approach that all levels of government might take, as well as the roles of the respective tiers of government. It also identifies three key priority areas for collaborative action (broadband availability, take-up, and usage), and the strategies Council might employ to achieve its objectives.

The framework will help position Australia as a competitive and innovative knowledge-based economy, and will focus on practical and achievable strategies to further develop and facilitate the use of broadband.

Council agreed the following priority areas, objectives and strategies for collaborative action:

• Broadband availabilityall Australians have access to high-speed broadband at equitable service levels and prices.
• Broadband take-upAustralians are fully aware of the benefits of high-speed broadband, and are able to choose a broadband service that meets their needs.
• Broadband usageAustralians use high-speed broadband to improve economic, environmental and social wellbeing.

Council tasked the National Broadband Development Group with addressing the priority areas, objectives and strategies identified in the document, and regularly reporting its progress to the Council.

Council agreed that the Framework for the collaborative development and use of broadband in Australia be released at the conclusion of the meeting and is available at www.occ.gov.au.

Review of the Online and Communications Council

Council endorsed the 12 recommendations outlined in the Online and Communications Council Review Report. The review was undertaken in accordance with the Council of Australian Governments protocols. It was also undertaken with a view to providing a systematic approach to reforming the Council as the peak ministerial forum across all jurisdictions for consultation, coordination and collaboration on information and communication issues of national strategic importance. The review included an examination of Council's role, strategic priorities, terms of reference, structure, operations and performance.

The review found that the Online and Communications Council provides an opportunity for all jurisdictions to contribute and discuss communication issues of national importance, including developments in broadband policy, e-government and the digital economy. There was strong agreement from key stakeholders consulted as part of the review process, that the Council had achieved its objectives and that it provided an effective forum for cooperation, coordination and collaboration between all levels of government, and that it needed to continue this important role.

Council members agreed its strategic priorities for 200911 will be: broadband availability, take-up and usage; regional and indigenous communications, including digital inclusion; digital economy; online environment, including online security and privacy; e-government (currently referred to as Connected Government'); ICT capacity, capability and skills; environmental matters; and implications of technology developments. The priority work will be taken forward by the Council's groups.

Connected Government

Under the Connected Government theme, federal, state/territory and local governments are collaborating on simple, convenient approaches for Australian citizens and businesses to interact with governments, resulting in formalising frameworks and strategies to improve government service delivery to citizens and business processes.

At this meeting, Council endorsed five national frameworks and a national strategy, which provide citizens and businesses with smarter, safer and more convenient services. These incorporate driving the consistent use of smartcard applications at all levels of government (National Smartcard Framework), verifying the identity of users and the authenticity of transactions (National e-Authentication Framework), the exchange of reliable name and address information (National Address Management Framework), developing standards for using new technologies where standards do not already exist (National Standards Framework), provision of standard approaches for government to publish and license information products (National Government Information Licensing Framework In Principle Agreement) and sharing information between agencies and jurisdictions while preserving legislative and privacy obligations (National Government Information Sharing Strategy). These national frameworks and strategy contribute to business'/citizens' confidence, trust and assurance in easy to use government services.

Regional Telecommunications Independent Review

Members noted that the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee report, Regional Telecommunications ReviewFramework for the future, was presented to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on 5 September 2008 and tabled in Parliament on 15 October 2008. Council members noted the Australian Government is currently reviewing the report and its recommendations and has six months from receipt of the report to table a response in Parliament.

Digital economy

Members noted the work that has been done to date in relation to the digital economy, and the proposed development of a Future Directions paper which outlines a roadmap to engage Australians to participate fully in the digital economy. This paper is being prepared in consultation with industry and will outline the benefits and opportunities the digital economy offers for Australians as well as the respective roles of government and industry in maximising these benefits and opportunities.

Members agreed that the Council, through the new Digital Economy Group, is best placed to progress cross-jurisdictional issues raised in the Future Directions paper.

ICT Capability

Members agreed that ICT capability issues continue to be addressed under the Council, through the new Digital Economy Group. The inclusion of industry development in this group will provide a forum for state and territory input to advance further ICT productivity gains by advising on the appropriate policy environment. It will also be a forum for identifying and implementing the investments and organisational changes required to overcome barriers to economic growth and social wellbeing and will consider a paper provided by the NSW Government on ICT skills.

Key resolutions

A list of key resolutions agreed to at the meeting is outlined at Attachment A.

Next meeting

Members agreed that they would next meet in the Northern Territory in 2009.

Media contacts:
Tim Marshall, Senator Conroy's office, 0408 258 457
Celia Hevesi, Council Secretariat, 0401 716 220

12 December 2008

Attachment A

Key resolutions

Promoting greater collaboration between jurisdictions

Framework for the collaborative development and use of broadband in Australia

As outlined in the framework, Council:

• Made a commitment to this Framework as a basis to work together to enhance the development and effective use of broadband in Australia.
• Agreed that promoting the development and effective use of broadband will enhance Australia's economic performance and environmental and social wellbeing.
• Australia should aspire to become one of the world's leading digital economies and intend to work together to facilitate this outcome.
• Share a vision of a cohesive national approach to stimulate and strengthen economic, environmental and social outcomes, through the development and effective use of broadband, for all Australians.
• Council agreed to the release of the Framework at the conclusion of the meeting.

Review of the Online and Communications Council

Council agreed:

• The Online and Communications Council Policy Framework.
• The Online and Communications Council terms of reference, strategic priority areas and modus operandi which have been updated to reflect emerging priorities in relation to the digital economy, ICT environment policy and new technology developments.
• To retain the current Council jurisdictional representational arrangements.
• To retain the current Standing Committee and Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee jurisdictional representational arrangements.
• The terms of reference and modus operandi of the Online and Communications Council Standing Committee and the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee.
• That the work of the existing Regional Communications Working Group be merged into the existing National Broadband Development Group.
• To retain the Indigenous Telecommunications Working Group, to be renamed the Indigenous Communications Group, particularly to continue its contribution towards Closing the Gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• To disband the existing ICT Capability in the Information Economy Working Group due to considerable duplication of responsibilities with other groups.
• To create a new Digital Economy Group that will be responsible for a range of issues, including digital economy issues, and ICT capabilities, capacity and skills. Any residual responsibilities of the former ICT Capability in the Information Economy Working Group would be assigned to the Digital Economy Group.
• That the groups supporting the Standing Committee and the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee should meet prior to 30 March 2009 to update or create their terms of reference, confirm proposed membership, modus operandi and to finalise proposed work plans and working arrangements for out-of-session endorsement by the relevant committee, and that all endorsed arrangements be in place by 30 June 2009.
• To delegate to the Standing Committee and the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee, authority to create, disband or amend arrangements for their respective groups, noting that the committees would be required to inform the Council of these decisions at the next meeting of the Council.
• To encourage full and appropriate jurisdictional representation, and facilitate efficient meeting arrangements, the Digital Economy Group, the National Broadband Development Group and the Indigenous Communications Group hold their meetings consecutively where possible.

Connected Government

Council endorsed five national frameworks and a national strategy. These include the:

• National Government Information Sharing Strategy
• National Standards Framework
• National Address Management Framework
• National Smartcard Framework
• National Government Information Licensing Framework (in-principle endorsement)
• National e-Authentication Framework.
• Members noted that the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee will undertake routine governance of the endorsed frameworks and strategies.

Digital economy

Council:

• Noted the work that has been done to date in relation to the digital economy, and the proposed development of a Future Directions paper which outlines a roadmap to engage Australians to participate fully in the digital economy.
• Agreed the Council, through the new Digital Economy Group, be a mechanism by which cross-jurisdictional issues raised in the Future Directions paper can be progressed.

ICT capability

• Agreed that ICT capability issues continue to be addressed by the Council
• Agreed that the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research lead discussion on these issues in the group with responsibility for digital economy matters
• Agreed that some of the issues that could be addressed include:
• • skills shortages and the disconnect between skill demand and supply
  • under-developed supply chain relationships between multinationals and small and medium companies
  • regulatory concerns such as fair use provisions and government copyright
  • environmental concerns about ICT equipment use and disposal
  • the growing relevance of digital literacy to social inclusion
  • ICT investment and skills opportunities.