Conference calls for collaborative Australian ICT industry
Conference calls for collaborative Australian ICT industry
Oct 04, 2005: A call has been issued for greater cooperation and a concerted national focus on the development of the ICT sector in Australia. Speaking at the closing of the South East Asian Regional Computer Confederation 2005 Conference (SEARCC 2005) hosted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) in Sydney, conference chairman Kumar Parakala invited State and Federal ministers and department heads to join industry leaders in working to develop new policies and incentives that will make the Australian ICT sector more competitive in the global marketplace.
“There is a clear need for enhanced professional practices, more proactive skill development, and a concerted international marketing effort to sell Australian ICT services in the global marketplace,” said Parakala. “We were delighted that the political leaders who participated in the State Ministers Panel session of SEARCC 2005 recognised the need for a new approach, and the benefits to Australia of getting it right. Now we need to build on this consensus by bringing together policy-makers, business leaders, academics and technical experts to focus on the ways and means of achieving this goal.”
The State Ministers Panel discussion brought together the NSW Minister John Della Bosca, South Australian Transport Minister Patrick Conlon, who recently oversaw the recruitment of the State’s first ever CIO, Grantly Mailes, who accompanied him on the panel. The Tasmanian Minister for State Development and the Arts, Lara Giddings also participated.
The panel discussion included attacks on the Federal Government’s lack of support for universities, support for a more pro-active role by governments in developing and attracting skills, and recognition of the need for more cooperation in promoting the Australian ICT industry internationally. The panellists also agreed on the need for state governments to take a broader approach to procuring and deploying technology under the guidance of CIOs, rather than relying on the more fragmented approaches of the past.
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