AIIA will work with the re-elected Bracks Government in Victoria to ensure the ICT industry in the state is supported and nurtured, says AIIA.

“The ICT industry makes a significant contribution to Victoria’s Gross State Product, but more importantly, underpins productivity growth and many of the activities Victorians undertake in their daily lives," says AIIA's Chief Executive Officer, Sheryle Moon.

“Importantly, the Bracks Government clearly acknowledges the significant role ICT plays in the continued economic growth of Victoria by outlining a comprehensive set of initiatives which will be implemented over the next three years,” Ms Moon says.

“AIIA acknowledges the Labor Party’s focus on encouraging and supporting Victorian companies to enter the global marketplace. In particular, the $4.8 million investment in the Opening Doors to Export program provides welcome support to those companies entering export markets for the first time.”

Ms Moon acknowledges the advances the Victorian Government has made in removing access barriers to the Victorian Government market, such as capping liability provisions in government contracting and default government ownership of intellectual property.

“The Labor Government has committed to continue to reduce red tape for ICT companies seeking to do business with government. AIIA will work with a re-elected Bracks Government on the removal of other key procurement inhibitors to ensure this commitment is honoured,” says Sheryle Moon.

Ms Moon says that the ALP’s proposed Government ICT Market Reports will provide timely advice to companies regarding the activities and investments of government. The reports will also enhance a new suite of reports, the Victorian Government ICT Reports, which will be delivered by AIIA and Dandolo Partners in 2007. This service will provide the Australian ICT industry with rich qualitative information about the Victorian Government’s ICT expenditure plans.

On the industry development front, Labor’s ICT Industry Plan 2005 – 2010 commits $1 million to industry collaboration.

“Industry has identified clusters and collaboration as important tools for industry growth, so this proposed government support is important in furthering this activity. AIIA’s CollabIT program is providing a framework and series of activities to deliver benefit to participants through clustering, and we would welcome further backing from government,” Ms Moon says.

Labor’s skills initiatives focus on scholarships and industry based learning. There is also a welcome focus on additional funds for the teaching of maths and science.

“We need to ensure more young people are taking the kinds of subjects which will lead them to a career in the ICT industry,” Ms Moon said.

“AIIA would also have hoped for an ongoing commitment to the ICT: Start Here, Go Anywhere program which was successful in increasing tertiary enrolments this year.”

AIIA also views the merger of the Office of the CIO (with its key strategic and policy focus) with Multimedia Victoria as important in further emphasising the government’s focus on ICT.

“We look forward to working with the Bracks Government to ensure that election commitments to the industry come to fruition,” Sheryle Moon concludes.

The Australian ICT industry has a vital role to play in enabling and underpinning economic growth, Western Australian parliamentarians were told last week.

On Monday 11 December, Telstra’s Chief Executive Officer, Sol Trujillo will be guest speaker at an AIIA luncheon in Brisbane.

Mr Trujillo will share Telstra's plan for Australia, including the recently-launched Next G network, Australia's fastest and largest mobile broadband network.

As Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo is driving a multi-year transformation of Australia's leading telecommunications company into what he calls a ‘media comms’ company.

Each week, AIIA’s Bulletin will profile one of the members of our influential Board of Directors.