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The Coalition is committed to implementing policies to ensure that Australian households and businesses are able to share in the benefits of the information economy.
As a result of the Coalition's commitment to the diffusion of new online technologies, Australia has one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. The ABS projects that half of all Australian households will have internet access by the end of the year.
However, the Coalition has difficulties with the proposal to provide a one-off payment to households and businesses to get online. The Coalition considers that 'digital divide' initiatives will be most effective if they address the key barriers to the Internet take-up which have been identified as: lack of basic IT skills; low awareness of the benefits of being online; and lack of compelling content.
Since 1996, the Coalition has implemented numerous programs to promote internet take-up by Australian households, through the provision of telecommunications infrastructure, Internet and technology skills training, and community content. This has primarily occurred through the $421 million Networking the Nation program and the Telstra Social Bonus.
As part of the $163 million response to the Telecommunications Services Inquiry, the Coalition has committed $50 million for the Internet Assistance Package, a joint venture with Telstra to ensure better quality and faster access to dial-up Internet services. The program provides a range of services to residential and small business users around Australia to ensure they can achieve an effective Internet speed equivalent to at least 19.2 kilobits per second.
The program provides for a national Online Help Service to provide impartial advice and support to households on practical steps that can be taken to improve Internet usage. This includes PC configuration, modem settings and the provision of self help kits. This service can be accessed by telephone or on the Internet.
Further, the program will fund a Technical Support Service to assist households whose problems cannot be resolved by the Online Help Service. A range of technical support services will be offered, including advanced software and minor works on Telstra's customer access network.
The Coalition believes that Australian businesses of all sizes stand to benefit from smart and strategic use of information technology and electronic commerce. According to a recent Yellow Pages SME survey 90% of small businesses and 100% of medium-sized businesses now own a computer and 75% of small businesses and 95% of medium-sized businesses are connected to the Internet.
Whilst these figures demonstrate that Australian businesses are embracing IT, the Coalition recognises that small businesses need more support in adopting e-commerce to transform business processes and reap the real benefits that online technologies can deliver including new market opportunities, and increased efficiency and competitiveness.
In order to ensure that small business get the help they need to get online the Coalition will spend $6.5 million over two years to provide tools, skills training and information for time-poor small businesses wishing to embrace e-commerce. As part of this package the Coalition will: develop a simple information guide to going online and applying e-commerce tools for small businesses, including micro businesses; and provide practical skills training through learning modules delivered in workshops through nationwide networks of trusted business and industry associations
In addition, as part of the Coalition's Government Online agenda, the Coalition will encourage SMEs to become e-businesses through the provision of cost-effective electronic procurement software solutions and advice enabling online transactions with government.
The RTIF Networking the Nation and others sych as the US "E-Rate" have proved to be effective programs for increasing access in communities, especially those which are in remote areas. The Greens would support further extension and funding for programs of this kind, especially to promote the development of connected local communities around schools and libraries in these areas.
Solving communications access problems is of vital importance to Australia. The current and previous government's communications policy legacy is an infrastructure mess: either feast or famine, and higher costs for all as a result. There are no simple ways to quickly fix these fundamental problems. The proposed inquiry would be the first step toward solutions.