Today’s Agenda for the meeting of the Online Council, organised by the Minister for Information Technology, Senator Alston, proves that even he has lost faith in his Framework for the Future (F3) Report.
The meeting between Federal, State and Territory information and communications technology (ICT) Ministers was the perfect opportunity for Senator Alston to address the first recommendation of the F3 Report, which states:
“A meeting of the Online Council should be convened by the Commonwealth within the next three months to discuss the outcomes and recommendations of this Report, and take the Report’s agenda forward, including addressing issues of coordination of ICT strategies and priorities between jurisdictions.”
However, the Minister has consigned this recommendation to the waste paper basket, only allocating ten minutes on the agenda for the discussion of F3 – that’s five minutes less than the 15 minutes set aside for a coffee break.
This is further proof that Senator Alston has no interest in working with the States to build on their strong efforts to develop Australia’s ICT industry – today’s two hour meeting is the first Online Council meeting since March 2002.
And now he has conceded that his big promise to the ICT industry, the F3 Report, is nothing but a flop – less important than coffee and biscuits. This leaves Australia’s ICT industry under the Howard Government without direction, costing our community jobs and investment dollars.
Media contact: Adina Cirson – (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
