Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Realising Our Broadband Future
A major two-day discussion and planning session for the future of Australia's digital economy began today in Sydney.
"Australia stands on the cusp of a digital transformation," said the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
"We stand at a time of great opportunity to improve education, to better our health and aged care systems, to create new business opportunities, to make more efficient infrastructure, and to strengthen our communities."
"This is why the Government is investing in the National Broadband Network as the enabling infrastructure for this emerging environment and it is why we are here today to consider how to maximise Australia’s digital potential."
Realising Our Broadband Future is a major two-day forum exploring how Australia can maximise the benefits enabled by the National Broadband Network. Discussion will focus on five main themes – Smart Infrastructure, Digital Education, e-Health, e-Business and e-Communities.
Key speakers include:
- Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
- Premier of Tasmania, David Bartlett.
- Jeffrey Cole, Director of University of Southern California’s Annenberg School Centre for the Digital Future.
- Vint Cerf, Google Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist.
- Mike Quigley, NBN Co Executive Chairman and CEO.
- Genevieve Bell, Intel Director User Experience.
- Brad Wearn, BHP Billiton Iron Ore CIO.
- Jane Bennett, Ashgrove Cheese CEO.
- Craig Mundie, Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer.
- Abigail E. Thomas, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Head, Strategic Innovation and Development.
"The National Broadband Network will turbo-charge our digital capacity and enable Australia to become a global leader in the digital economy of the 21stcentury," Senator Conroy said.
"Over two days, this forum will discuss and debate the new applications and business models that will emerge in an NBN-enabled world. We will conduct a reality check of where we are now, and establish priorities take full advantage of our high-speed broadband enabled digital economy," said Senator Conroy.
Forum participants and the general public can contribute to the discussion via Twitter (#bbfuture) and assist in planning our next steps via a wiki. Plenary sessions of the forum will be webcast live, with audio streaming of other sessions.
For more information, including how to participate in the forum online and the program visit: www.broadbandfuture.gov.au
Date: 10 December 2009
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457
