Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE

Address to the Australian Computer Society Annual Conference: "Diversity, Innovation and Risk— Challenges for the IT Professional"

Thursday, 6 March 2008

It is a pleasure to be here this morning to discuss some of the very important challenges facing ICT professionals and the industry as a whole.

I would like to start by thanking the Australian Computer Society for hosting this conference and for the outstanding contribution it makes to this industry.

As you know, the Rudd Government has just completed its first 100 days in office. We have committed to building a modern Australia equipped to meet the challenges of the future, and we have hit the road running.

This is only the beginning but already we have made strides, fighting inflation, taking action on climate change, improving our health and hospital system, investing in education and putting fairness back into Australian workplaces.

Inheriting inflation rates at their highest level in sixteen years, the Rudd Government has moved quickly to make fighting inflation a core priority.

We are now implementing a five point plan on inflation designed to place downward pressure on interest rates.

Education is the key platform for economic prosperity and the Government has begun implementing its program for an Education Revolution.

This program extends from early childhood learning to schools, tech colleges, universities and research and development.

A further platform for future growth is economic infrastructure.

That’s why we’ve established Infrastructure Australia to undertake a national audit of Australia’s infrastructure needs and provide advice on our nation’s infrastructure priorities.

Other initiatives such as signing Kyoto, national health reforms, and forging a new partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, demonstrate the hard work we are doing to prepare for future.

We’re realistic about the challenges we face. Many are long term problems requiring long term solutions and can’t be fixed overnight.

And speaking of challenges, it is great to be here at the ACS conference where the theme is Challenges for ICT Professionals.

I would like to congratulate Kim Denman on her appointment as the new CEO of the ACS.

I look forward to working with Kim and all of you here today as we face the challenges of developing a sustainable and innovative ICT environment.

These challenges provide exciting opportunities for development, expansion and innovation, but they also open up new risks not only to ICT professionals, but also for all industries.

As a government and as an industry, we need to be aware of the opportunities and the risks to ensure we are prepared.

So that we maximise the opportunities and we minimise the risks.

ICT is a key driver right across our economy and this will only increase in coming years.

In recognition of this, the digital economy has been included, not only into the content, but also into the name of my department—Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

I want to talk to you today about what this Government is planning—and already doing—to ensure we make the most of opportunities that this critical time in our history offers.

History is not something that comes up often in speeches about technology; however, it is an interesting fact that computing in this country owes a lot to a horse named Delta.

Delta won the Melbourne Cup in 1951, and the owner, Adolph Basser, donated 50,000 pounds in winnings toward the construction of SILLIAC, one of Australia’s first computers.

Until recently, sport was in the same portfolio as ICT, and now I finally understand why!

With the expertise of the Australian Computer Society’s foundation president, John Bennett, SILLIAC was invaluable, not only to Sydney University, but also to the business community.

Even then, there were people who saw the potential of this technology to change our society for the better.

SILLIAC was also an important part of such nation-building projects as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme.

That project was a defining point in Australia's history, and an important symbol of Australia's identity as an independent and resourceful country.

One of this country’s next major nation-building projects: the National Broadband Network, will be just as important and will set Australia on the path to long-term economic prosperity.

As I just mentioned, rapid developments in ICT and the associated impacts on skills and knowledge are driving large increases in economic productivity and prosperity.

Countries that have developed national ICT strategies and have established thriving ICT industries see flow-on effects across all sectors of their economies.

To ensure Australia is able to compete and interact in what is undeniably a global market, we need government and industry to provide strong leadership.

I know the ACS contributed extensively to the NICTIA (National ICT Industry Alliance) 10 year vision released in May last year. And I am pleased to say that the Rudd Government’s views for the ICT sector are closely aligned with this vision.

The Government realises Australia has reached the point where we must invest in infrastructure to enable the next wave of services, applications and content.

Policy must promote innovation and create demand for new products and services.

And it must ensure that all Australians and all communities have connectivity and that they are part of the digital frontier.

We must undertake research to understand community readiness—for example why some communities may resist connectivity, and to address those issues such as ICT literacy so that we overcome the digital divide.

Australia ’s adaptation to the digital economy is key to long-term growth, international competitiveness, national security, social cohesion, cultural richness and the ability to innovate.

That is why digital technology is a central part of the Government’s economic agenda for sustaining Australia’s prosperity over the next decade.

The policies I will outline today many of which are aligned to the NICTIA 10 year vision, are part of a larger strategy for ensuring Australia is well-equipped to take part in a digital world.

For example, one of NICTIA’s strategic statements called for “a high speed, affordable national broadband infrastructure and complementary e-security network that puts Australia among the leaders in the OECD”.

Key initiatives

Without high-speed broadband, Australia will not benefit fully from the digital age; in fact, we would be left behind as other countries advance.

National Broadband Network

That is why we propose to invest up to $4.7 billion—including the existing $2 billion communications fund—in a partnership with the private sector to build a high-speed National Broadband Network over the next five years. 

Of course, we also welcome proposals from industry to roll-out a fibre-to-the-premises network.

The National Broadband Network will facilitate the growth of knowledge industries, and allow business in general to raise its productivity and efficiency.

It will impact profoundly on the lives of all Australians by changing the way we access education, health and government services.

It will also deliver key social benefits, providing new forms of interaction and entertainment.

Security

The Government also recognises that as Australian homes and businesses become increasingly reliant on broadband, they may be exposed to e-security threats.

NICTIA pointed to the need for adequate e-security and we are working to ensure that Australians are able to use high-speed broadband in a safe and secure manner.

My department is implementing a range of e-security awareness raising initiatives targeted at home-users, students and small businesses.

These include:

• an annual E-Security Awareness Week with industry and community organisations
• a plain English National E-Security Alert Service for home users and small businesses which will provide up-to-date information on e-security threats and vulnerabilities
• enhancing the Government’s e-security information website: www.staysmartonline.gov.au, and
• an e-security education module for Australian schools.

ACMA is also expanding the Australian Internet Security Initiative to address the emerging problem of computers compromised through the installation of malware.

As you will know, a collection of compromised computers—or botnet—can be remotely controlled by attackers for illegal and harmful activities such as sending malicious spam, stealing personal financial information or launching denial-of-service attacks.

ACMA is working with Internet Service Providers to identify compromised computers and assist their owners in rectifying the problem.

These activities are ensuring that home-users and small businesses are able to harness the benefits of the Government’s roll-out of high-speed broadband in a safe and secure manner.

The Government is committed to a comprehensive cyber-safety plan to provide children, teachers and parents with a first-class cyber-safety education by providing new forums in which cyber-safety issues will be raised and addressed.

It will also undertake further research into this area and implement ISP filtering to minimise the effect of harmful content on children.

Innovation

This government is ensuring Australia has the high speed infrastructure it needs and that consumers and businesses are protected online.

This government also understands the important role of innovation in developing the new technology and new applications that will help drive future productivity.

Another of NICTIA’s vision statements called for government “support to readily identify and respond to real international business opportunities.”

NICTIA also highlighted the need for an ICT industry that that is a magnet for private investment to support R&D and commercialisation of technology through large multi-disciplinary commercial R&D and product realisation centres.

As an example of our work in this area, the Government’s $200 million Enterprise Connect network is aimed at connecting businesses to new ideas and new technologies.

This will include a national network of Manufacturing Centres, a Clean Energy Innovation Centre, a Creative Industries Innovation Centre and a Remote Enterprise Centre.

And, in January 2008, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced a review of the National Innovation System.

The review will consult nationally to identify barriers to innovation and submit a green paper to the Government on its findings and recommendations by 31 July 2008.

Digital Education Revolution

Education is also a vital part of ensuring that Australians are well-equipped to take part in the digital world.

The Government’s $1 billion Digital Education Revolution is aimed at making sustainable and meaningful change to teaching and learning in Australian schools.

This will prepare students for further education, training, jobs of the future and to live and work in a digital world. 

The Government will also invest $100 million over four years as a contribution to the provision of high-speed fibre-to-the-premises broadband connections to schools.

Skills

A continuing issue for the Australian Computer Society and all those involved in ICT is the availability of skilled workers.

Like industry, the Australian Government is also experiencing the economy-wide shortage of ICT workers resulting from rising demand and the declining supply of graduates from universities and other institutions.

This shortage will continue while there is an imbalance between the current high demand and the reduced supply through traditional pathways.

While there are no quick fixes, there are opportunities for all elements of the ICT industry to work collaboratively to address these issues.

The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) is implementing initiatives to ensure a stronger, more skilled and more professional ICT workforce for the public service.

These include placing apprentices in Australian Government agencies.

On completion, apprentices will have gained a certificate 4 in ICT, received on-the job work experience in a government agency and be eligible for employment in the Australian Public Service.

The ACS is playing an important role in supporting the apprentices, providing student memberships and insight into the professional world.

There will be further opportunities for AGIMO and the ACS to work collaboratively with apprentices and on other potential ICT Cadetships and paid ICT work-placements.

Just a few weeks ago, the Skills Australia Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.

The establishment of Skills Australia will enable the Government to get high-quality advice about the current, emerging and future skills needs of Australia.

Skills Australia will be allocated $14.6 million for the funding period 2007-08 to 2010-11 through the annual appropriations of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Thank you for the opportunity to outline some of this Government’s goals and visions for this fundamentally important industry.

This Government understands the challenges.

We are ensuring that Australia has world-class infrastructure, that Australians have the skills they need to compete, that innovation can take place and that the online environment is safe and secure.

I certainly look forward to working with you over the coming months and years as we deal with these and other challenges.

Thank you.