After sustained pressure from AIIA, the Australian Government has issued a guide recommending that suppliers' liability should be capped at appropriate levels when purchasing ICT goods and services.

The Australian ICT industry has a vital role to play in enabling and underpinning economic growth, parliamentarians were told last week during AIIA’s annual meetings with government decision makers.

For more than a decade, AIIA’s Board of Directors has assembled annually in Canberra to meet with government ministers, shadow ministers and senior officials. This year, the board convened with three ministers: Gary Nairn, Special Minister of State, Ian Macfarlane, Minster for Industry, Tourism and Resources, and Gary Hardgrave, Minster for Vocational and Technical Education, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. The board also met with the Shadow Minister for ICT, Stephen Conroy.

The overarching message was simple: it’s time to ValueICT.

Minister Nairn was the host of a breakfast for coalition backbenchers who were keen to learn more about the value of the ICT industry to the Australian economy. Guests included Senators Richard Colbeck and Gary Humphries, and federal members Alan Cadman, Michael Ferguson, Michael Keenan and Ken Ticehurst.

“ICT is a driving force of the Australian economy, contributing 4.6 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product – more than the contributions made by the agriculture, forestry and fishing, defence and education sectors and almost as much as the mining sector,” AIIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Rob Durie told the audience.

“Our industry is also responsible for between half and three quarters of all productivity growth – ICT drives 85 per cent of productivity growth in the manufacturing sector and up to 78 per cent in the services sector. ICT is also the fundamental driver of employment in both the ICT industry and across other industries, employing more than 500,000 Australians,” he said.

“ICT is an extremely valuable and viable industry, the growth of which should be nurtured,” Mr Durie continued. “With the assistance of the Australian Government, our industry can transform Australia into a stable, profitable knowledge economy.”

Mr Durie and the Board of Directors urged the government to implement supportive policies that encourage the ICT industry to grow. “By backing our industry, the Australian Government will in turn be better able to achieve its and the country’s key economic and social goals,” Mr Durie said.

AIIA’s Board of Directors also met with Gary Hardgrave, Minister for Vocational & Technical Education, to discuss ICT workforce issues. In particular, the board emphasised that governments must ensure that Australia produces a well-educated workforce and researchers who will generate and sustain economic growth and innovation, not just for the Australian ICT industry, but also the other industry sectors which rely heavily on ICT for productivity gains.

Discussions with Minister McFarlane centred around how Australia can grow a strong, export focussed ICT industry in Australia which maximises its contribution to productivity and to the nation. The Minister was briefed on AIIA’s two key industry development programs – CollabIT and Developing Business Skills for ICT Entrepreneurs – both of which would benefit from partnership with governments.

After these strategic meetings, AIIA was delighted to present Minister Nairn at the Canberra Managers’ Forum event of the year. Minister Nairn shared his vision for e-government strategy and discussed the proposed Smartcard Framework, and its implications for the ICT industry and society as a whole.

Visit aiia.com.au!

AIIA's events calendar can be viewed on the AIIA website.
To register for events, view past presentations or read the latest news from the ICT industry, visit aiia.com.au.