AIIA knows that one of the best ways to build the ICT industry and improve the competitive environment is to influence the development of government policy.

Members of AIIA recognise that associations are essential in the government lobbying process. In general, both state and federal governments support open channels of communication with associations, and regard them as a bridge to industry.

Associations are able to represent a wide range of interests, are experts on ICT policy and have up-to-date industry research to back up their positions. Associations also understand how federal and state governments work, how the officials interrelate and the structure and timings of the budgetary process.

AIIA's policy team provide policy leadership and advocacy through understanding member issues and championing them to government and the community. The team, led by James McAdam, General Manager of Strategy & Policy Services, consists of six specialists who cover such diverse issues as industry development, procurement, SMEs, R&D, export, trade and international relations, and corporate social responsibility.

AIIA's current lobbying approach is to concentrate on a few key issues to gain as much 'traction' with the government as possible. Simply put, large 'shopping lists' don't work.

To illustrate this point, it is worth looking at the core commitments sought by AIIA from both parties in the lead up to the federal election:
• Removing unlimited liability provisions in procurement of ICT products and services for the Australian Government,
• Increasing the commercialisation of intellectual property in federal government procurement, and
• Offshoring (including greater incentives to export).

By honing in on these three vital issues to the industry, AIIA's lobbying activities remained focused in the lead up to the election. The response AIIA received to its pre-election lobbying validated this approach.

On the issue of export, the Australian Government agreed to increase funding of the Export Market Development Grant by $30m over three years. On the IP front, both parties undertook to make changes, and a guide is expected to be prepared to provide procurement officials with 'best practice' examples for the treatment of IP.

Perhaps most importantly, both major parties agreed to improve the liability provisions in government contracting. The federal government is now preparing a guide on limitation of liability, which should be available for public consultation by October.

It must be noted that AIIA's success with the unlimited liability issue can be credited in part to the Association's widely-read Better Practices, Better Outcomes report. This was a well-articulated fact-based report, and gave us the required traction with the government. Without such a positive starting position, the Association could not have achieved such excellent outcomes for industry.

AIIA is confident that progress will continue to be made on the issue of unlimited liability. Not only are actions being taken at the federal level, but both the Victorian and NSW Governments have agreed to examine the issue closely. The NSW Government, for example, has asked AIIA to submit a proposed model on how they can cap liability in NSW Government contracting.

AIIA has worked steadily with ministerial staff and key government officials, delivering research to make the government's decisions easier and congruent with existing policy. AIIA will continue to place the Australian Government under close scrutiny to ensure they live up to the commitments outlined prior to the election.

Having achieved commitment at a political level, the 'real work' of the Association begins - regular communication and liaison with government departments to ensure that implementation occurs across all levels of the government.

Without an association focused on industry-wide issues, no company - large or small - could achieve such far reaching outcomes. AIIA members gain measurable benefits from being a part of the Association, not the least of which is the lobbying activities being conducted on their behalf. It is the responsibility of all members of the Association to encourage non-members (their partners, alliances and channel members) to join AIIA, so that we can continue the good work to make the ICT industry in Australia better for all.

John Price
Chairman
Australian Information Industry Association

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