Red Alert

Gee the Aussies actually think ICT issues matter

Posted by Clare Curran on July 26th, 2010

The key ICT political figures in the Federal Election are expected to go head to head in a debate at the National Press Club on 10 August.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has extended invitations to communications minister, Stephen Conroy, the Opposition shadow communications minister, Tony Smith, and Greens ICT spokesperson, Scott Ludlam to take part in the event.

Computerworld Australia will seek to clarify each party’s policy commitments on the following ICT-related issues in the lead up to the vote:

  • The National Broadband Network (NBN);
  • e-Health
  • Digital education (computers in schools)
  • Gershon Review changes
  • Government 2.0
  • Security and cyber crime
  • The Internet filter
  • Defence cyber capabilities and oversight
  • ICT skills development
  • ICT innovation
  • Privacy Act changes
  • Sustainable ICT
  • Smart grids, transport and environment systems
  • Online piracy and copyright protection
  • ICT advocacy
  • Online services
  • Departmental IT transformation program

I wonder whether Steven Joyce (the Minister of Communications and many other things)  could have a debate with me on any of these issues (other than broadband).


9 Responses to “Gee the Aussies actually think ICT issues matter”

  1. Spud says:

    I hope so too.

  2. Richard says:

    Clare, I suggest that the lack of responses suggests that most don’t know what you are talking about. :D

  3. Simon says:

    Don’t have your discussion on Skype, your connection may not be good enough.

  4. Clare Curran says:

    @ Richard. That was a very snooty thing to say

  5. Richard says:

    Snooty?? I don’t know personally what half the things on your list are. Some are obvious, but some are known only to people involved in the industry, I would guess.

  6. Spud says:

    Oh well, at least Clare knows what they are :-D

  7. Clare Curran says:

    I don’t know what the Gershon Review changes are, but will find out. Remember this is an Australian list of issues, but most if not alla re relevant here and many I have posted about.

    I do agree that jargon can be off putting. I try not to use it if I can help it. But happy to be pulled up on it.

  8. Loota says:

    “The Internet Filter” = Great Government Firewall of Australia

  9. Nevyn says:

    Regardless of the list – can we look at the topic?

    Let’s break this down. A debate is being broadcast on TV. The only way things end up on TV is either there’s enough money to get it there or there’s sufficient interest in it to be there (thus advertising revenue).

    What this says to me is that the network has figured that there’s enough interest in ICT in Australia to hold a debate on it.

    The question is, do we in New Zealand have to wait until things have gone completely south (Internet Filter?!?!? Seriously?!?) before we show this level of interest? How would the various representatives fare in such a debate? Who has the best interest of New Zealanders in mind when looking at these issues?

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