Queensland ICT disappointed with Government
Queensland ICT disappointed with Government
Queensland software companies have united in their fury at the Government for not providing enough financial backing to the ICT industry in Australia by spending so much money on the imports of foreign products.
These companies are hoping to claim back billions of dollars in revenue so that this money can be spent to develop software products in Australia and strengthen the businesses behind these projects.
Dr Paul Campbell, the chief executive officer of icemedia, said: "The Queensland and Federal governments spend millions of dollars of tax payers' money with overseas software companies.
"The simple fact of the matter is that the innovation and ingenuity of Australian software companies has proven itself in the global marketplace with a long list of success stories.
"If we received even a fraction of the government assistance given to the likes of the sugar and car industries we could take on the world - in fact we already do."
Campbell added that the industry has been responsible for employment growth, exports, the expansion of Australian intellectual property and now needs a united voice.
Software Queensland has been formed as the body behind that united voice, to strengthen the local software development industry and improve its economic impact. One of its main aims now is turn around the growing ICT trade deficit, which is currently nearly $20 billion.
"When you consider that ICT underpins everything that happens in our world today, the situation will only worsen, perhaps to the point where Australia loses the ability to determine its own future, unless support for the Australian owned ICT industry is boosted significantly."
"We are sending a message to government, industry and colleagues in the ICT industry; it's time to address this issue head-on. If we want Australia to remain a strong economy, culturally independent and in control of its future, then we must have a very strong, locally owned ICT industry that adds to employment and the wealth of the community."
He pointed out that for too long companies could only approach the government as individual companies, whereas now they can put forward their cases as the Queensland ICT industry.
He also hopes that Software Queensland will be a catalyst to similar forums in other states eventually, with the view to one day creating a representative body for the Australian Software Product Developer community as a whole.
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