Internet Society of Australia
A Chapter of the Internet Society
ABN 36 076 406 801
NEWS RELEASE Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) 2000/05 The Internet is for Everyone! 10 May 2000 FEDERAL BUDGET FALTERS ON AUSTRALIAN INFORMATION SOCIETY 'The Commonwealth Government's commitment to moving Australia into the global information society and economy may be faltering', Mr Tony Hill, Executive Director of the Internet Society of Australia said today. The 2000 Federal Budget contains no major new measures to encourage speedy adoption of information technology. The Government has wasted the opportunity to use $2.6 billion expected from sales of radio spectrum to boost Australia's participation in the information economy. The government's only spending initiatives relate to provision of digital television and protection of the national information infrastructure. Other initiatives have been placed back onto internal Departmental budgets, such as continued operation of NOIE at a cost of $3m per year. These measures are not sufficient to help Australia's participation in the information society. Initiatives are needed to assist all Australians achieve full access to the Internet particularly at a time when some service providers are seeking to reduce physical services and possibly replace them with online services. There is also a strong need for coordination of Government policy when crucial elements are being put in place in relation to privacy, security, authentication and copyright. Contact: Mr Tony Hill, 0412 128 755, ed@isoc-au.org.au Mr Leni Mayo, 0418 377 937, media@isoc-au.org.au -- | Tony Hill Executive Director | | ed@isoc-au.org.au Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) | | Tel +61 2 6257 5544 PO Box 152 | | Mobile 041 212 8755 Civic Square ACT 2608 Australia | | Fax +61 2 6262 9938 www.isoc-au.org.au | | The Internet is for Everyone! |