Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Broadband forum ‘Open to Your Ideas’
Realising Our Broadband Future is now open for public contribution and discussion online, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announced today.
"We are inviting the public to be part of shaping our future vision by suggesting ideas and commenting on other contributions to the Realising Our Broadband Future forum this week," Senator Conroy said.
"This forum is an important event to explore how Australia is already planning to maximise the benefits enabled by the National Broadband Network."
"By providing their ideas online at www.broadbandfuture.gov.au, the Australian public can play an important part in guiding this discussion."
The ‘Open to Your Ideas’ discussion tool, available online now, allows people to suggest ideas and discussion priorities for contribution to the forum agenda in Sydney on December 10 and 11.
Online discussion will reflect the five main themes of the forum – Smart Infrastructure, Digital Education, e-Health, e-Business and e-Communities.
"The digital economy offers exciting opportunities for all Australians, it is a key factor in the dynamism and growth of our nation. This event and our online discussions will help ensure we maximise those opportunities," Senator Conroy said.
The public can vote on which digital economy ideas most appeal to them and can contribute their own ideas, including posting links to YouTube videos.
Remote and online participation will also be encouraged during the forum, including:
- Live webcasts of the plenary sessions and audio streaming of discussion during the five stream sessions.
- Twitter messages posted at #bbfuture, which will be displayed on a live ‘Twitterwall’ at the forum.
- A wiki, developed to enable forum participants to collaboratively edit records of the discussion from each of the five streams.
- Independently organised remote group consultations.
‘Open for Your Ideas’ will be operating until 9:00pm Wednesday 9 December via www.broadbandfuture.gov.au
More information on the Realising Our Broadband Future and all aspects of participation is also available at www.broadbandfuture.gov.au
Date: 7 December 2009
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457
