The ICT industry in Western Australia

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Tony_Simpson
Joined: 21:02 30/07/2008
Posts: 2

Posted at: 21:21 30/07/2008

Hello to all the stakeholders in WA's ICT sector that are visiting this site, my name is Tony Simpson and I am a Member of the Western Australian State Parliament and the Opposition Spokesperson for Innovation.

This portfolio includes within it the policy area of ICT, an industry with which I have had a great deal of contact with over the past three years.

Concerned by what I have been hearing lately from various stakeholders, I wrote to the Minister for Industry and Resources on the 23rd of June, asking him what exactly the Government intended to do in order to foster our State's ICT industry.

A similar letter was sent to the Premier, as Minister for Innovation.

Over a month later and I am still waiting from a response from either Minister.

I believe it is important that the industry receive some real certainty as to what it is that the Government plans to do in this important area and once the Premier and the Minister respond, I will post their replies here.

For the information of interested stakeholders, I have included a copy of my original letter in the next post.

If any member of the industry wishes to discuss any ICT or innovation related matter with me, please contact my office at sjoffice@mp.wa.gov.au or on 9525 4822.

Regards,

Tony Simpson MP
OPPOSITION SPOKESPERSON FOR INNOVATION

Tony_Simpson
Joined: 21:02 30/07/2008
Posts: 2

Posted at: 21:21 30/07/2008

23 June 2008

Hon. Fran Logan MLA
Minister for Industry and Resources
10th Floor, London House
216 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000

Support for ICT innovation in Western Australia

Dear Minister,

Having consistently maintained contact with members of the ICT industry, I have witnessed some concern over the authenticity of the current State Governments support of the sector.

In particular, members of the industry have asked me to question what monies have been allocated to making Information and Communications Technologies one of the four pillars of economic diversification in Western Australia.

There seems to be an opinion throughout the industry that while the Government makes a lot of noise about supporting innovation in our State and preparing Western Australia for life beyond the boom, in reality there has been little action to support it.

I have been informed that while the Government is talking up its credentials on supporting innovation, it is cutting funding for the Western Australian Telecommunications Research Institute, the ICT Industry Collaboration Centre and putting the Centre of Excellence program under review.

There is also disquiet coming from industry members about the refusal to release the draft ICT industry strategic plan conducted by your Department into the ICT industry. From what I have heard, the findings of this strategic were popular in the industry, but not in the Department of Industry and Resources. Will this review be publicly released at any date in the future?

If this wasnt enough, there is also concern that the State Broadband Network that you announced in 2006 has gone nowhere and is another example of empty rhetoric that has not been backed up with any real action.

Please advise me if I am incorrect with any of these assertions, as I know that each and every one of them is causing concern in the industry.

In case you think that I am being unfairly critical, I am not claiming that the State Government has taken no action in the area of Information and Communications Technologies. I understand that the Government has undertaken some ICT related projects, such as the SKA and the rollout of broadband for regional indigenous networks. These are good projects that I and my colleagues support, however, they do not substantially assist ICT innovation at a commercial level and they will not significantly improve the competitive position of our States ICT industry.

We also acknowledge that the Government is investing resources into the Technology Park at Bentley. However, whilst buildings and roads are necessary for businesses to succeed, they are once again not enough to provide our innovative ICT businesses with a competitive edge over their rivals.

We need the State Government to create the right environment that will allow our innovative industries to succeed. Technology Park is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough to match the rhetoric that I have seen come from the Government in the past few years.

I am interested in discovering what substance is behind this rhetoric.

If you can provide me with a specific breakdown of what monies were actually spent in the 2007-08 financial year to make ICT one of the four pillars of economic diversification and what funds have been allocated to be spent in this area in 2008-09, that would be greatly appreciated.

I eagerly await your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Simpson MLA
LIBERAL PARTY SPOKESPERSON FOR INNOVATION

MEMBER FOR SERPENTINE-JARRAHDALE

richard_bone
Joined: 13:52 22/07/2008
Posts: 2

Posted at: 10:42 08/08/2008

Now that the election is called it is an ideal time to open the debate on what our "choices" are in terms of government support for the ICT industry.

I'd like to see what could expect from both major parties if they win office at the coming election.

samuelcaleb
Joined: 18:11 11/09/2008
Posts: 2

Posted at: 18:16 11/09/2008

I'm really looking forward to see what the both parties can do after they got elected.....i think we should have a huge change in our society...
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samuelcaleb
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samuelcaleb
Joined: 18:11 11/09/2008
Posts: 2

Posted at: 18:19 11/09/2008

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