IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday 7 December of a National Innovation and Science Agenda is a welcome development.

However, the challenge will be for the government to turnaround our National Innovation System (NIS) which has been steadily in decline for some time.

As outlined in the Prime Minister’s statement, Australia has many world class businesses, universities and research organisations. However, Australia ranks at the bottom of the OECD group of advanced nations in relation to university-industry collaboration.

Seen by some as sitting on the wrong side of the world, Australia wants to plug deeper into the global economy by turbo-charging its broadband power. The nation is funding an ambitious plan to deliver high-speed Internet to its population of 22 million.

At 36 billion Australian dollars ($36.4 billion), it is the single largest infrastructure investment in the nation’s history.

But the national broadband network — or NBN, as it’s known — has divided opinion on political, economic and technological lines since it was first proposed in 2007.

The New South Wales budget for the 2013-14 financial year shows a strong ICT focus compared to other states in Australia, according to the Australian Computer Society. The NSW government released the budget today.

“ACS is pleased that the NSW government has recognised the importance of ICT to the NSW economy,” said Adam Redman, ACS head of policy and external affairs.

The Australian Internet Industry Association (AIIA) has criticised the government for moving slowly on ICT innovation, urging it to act now or risk hindering Australia’s ability to compete in the global digital economy.