AIIA has welcomed the launch of the National ICT Contracting Framework, launched on Friday by the Australian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) at a Ministerial Council Forum in Melbourne.

AIIA says that Framework will bring a greater level of consistency to standard contractual issues.

According to AIIA’s Chairman, Peter Kazacos, adopting a consistent framework will realise a raft of benefits for government customers and industry, including improved contracting processes and outcomes, and a reduction in negotiation costs with ICT suppliers.

AIIA has welcomed incoming Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, and paid tribute to the stellar work of outgoing Premier, Peter Beattie.

“Under the guidance of Premier Beattie, Queensland has taken a leadership position in terms of industry/government relations,” said AIIA’s Queensland State Chair, Catherine Ford, upon hearing the announcement.

“We salute Mr Beattie’s role as a champion of the ICT industry in the state.  While there is plenty still to do, we are pursuing a common objective and have a structure in place to advance our joint ambitions on ICT industry development and the contribution the industry can make through its supplier relationship,” Ms Ford said.

Ms Ford added that under Premier Beattie, Queensland has developed programs to commercialise intellectual property, facilitate partnerships between large and small ICT companies, and improved the operating environment for ICT companies working with government.

“We look forward to continuing the outgoing Premier’s good work under the direction of Anna Bligh, who has been a strong advocate for the ICT industry, and a solid campaigner for ICT careers and skills,” Ms Ford added.

“It is vitally important that the ICT industry in Queensland continues to be nurtured and recognised for its significant contributions to the state’s Gross State Product, and to productivity growth across countless other sectors of the regional economy,” said Catherine Ford.

“We will enthusiastically continue our work with the Queensland Government to remove market inhibitors and develop programs and policies which strengthen our industry – in Queensland, Australia and internationally,” Ms Ford concluded.

Next year the Australian telecoms market will top the $37 billion mark, with another $1.5 billion being added to that figure by 2009, according to research house BuddeComm.

BuddeComm says that data revenues, which include broadband and dial-up Internet. will grow from $6 billion in 2007 to $8 billion in 2009, representing the largest growth in the industry. Telstra dominates this market with a 66 per cent market share.

At a luncheon in late July, AIIA presented Telstra’s CEO, Sol Trujillo, who shared his opinions about the future of broadband in Australia. (You can view the podcast online.)

Last Wednesday, AIIA presented the views of four more distinguished speakers on this topic.

View AIIA’s podcasts of the speakers’ presentations:

• Macquarie Telecom’s Maha Krishnapillai; 
• Primus Telecom’s Rhavi Bhatia; and
• Ed Willett, Commissioner at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

AIIA podcast a panel discussion to coincide with the launch of the Byteback program, which is now available from AIIA's website.

Moderated by AIIA's CEO, Sheryle Moon, industry experts David Mol from HP, Urs Mader from Fujitsu and Ramsay Moodie from Fuji Xerox examined critical environmental issues surrounding the ICT industry.

Today, on Talking Technology, Sheryle Moon looks at an international report into digital prosperity, which examines the impact of ICT in five key areas: productivity, employment, more efficient markets, higher quality goods and services, and innovation and new products and services.

The report finds that the integration of IT into virtually all aspects of the economy and society is creating a digitally-enabled economy that is responsible for generating the lion’s share of economic growth and prosperity, both in the US and internationally, including in developing nations.

Find out more at Talking Technology.

Enrolments for ACS Computer Professional Education Program (November intake) close on 31 October.

This week, the largest research project into the Open Source industry and community will be launched.