Thirteenth Online and Communications Council Communiqué

Friday 8 September 2006

Australian Government, state and territory Ministers and the Australian Local Government Association met in Canberra today for the 13th meeting of the Online and Communications Council.

Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and the Special Minister of State, the Hon. Gary Nairn MP chaired the meeting.

Governments were represented by:

Australian Government	Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan (Chair) Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
	The Hon. Gary Nairn MP Special Minister of State (Chair of e-Government items)
New South Wales	Mr Graham West, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
Victoria	The Hon. Marsha Thomson MP, Minister for Information and Communication Technology; Consumer Affairs
Queensland	Mr Mal Grierson (Director General, Department of Public Works)
Western Australia	The Hon. Francis Logan, Minister for Energy; Science and Innovation
South Australia	Ms Carolyn Anderson (Director Information Economy, Department for Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology)
Tasmania	The Hon. Michael Aird MLC, Treasurer and Minister for Racing
Australian Capital Territory	Mr Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister
Northern Territory	Mr Elliot McAdam MLA, Minister for Local Government; Housing; Corporate and Information Services; Communications; Central Australia; and Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs
ALGA	Councillor Paul Braybrooks, Australian Local Government Association

Participants discussed the draft Broadband Blueprint, progress of Connect Australia initiatives, broadband policy, Australia's ICT capability, e-security, e-government, and digital television spectrum.

They were also updated on collaboration relating to regional communications, Indigenous communications, domain names and the forthcoming Korea/Australia/New Zealand Broadband Summit. In addition, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment provided the Council with a presentation on the Victorian Mapping and Address Service.

Broadband Blueprint

The development of the Broadband Blueprint was discussed at the OCC meeting. Ministers agreed that broadband communications are a key component of Australia's critical infrastructure. They also agreed that while jurisdictions face different broadband challenges and have diverse needs, there is a clear benefit in strategically coordinating broadband issues across all levels of government. Therefore, the Ministers agreed to continue the level of collaboration in broadband issues that was achieved in recent years.

Ministers noted that with a number of commercial infrastructure roll-outs proposed, and government at all levels making large investments in telecommunications infrastructure, it is timely that Australia adopts a clearly defined national roadmap to broadband development. They recognised that a continued focus on the development of next generation network infrastructure and applications is required to underpin Australia's future economic prosperity and global competitiveness.

Ministers also suggested that the Blueprint should include an attainable roadmap for next generation broadband services and clearly articulate the roles of the Australian Government, other governments and private sector players in ensuring the development of advanced broadband networks and services. The achievement of this vision will require collaboration with the states and territories on funding solutions. The Australian Government has requested further specific input from the states and territories into the Blueprint.

Connect Australia

The Council noted progress on the Connect Australia programs and agreed that state, territory and local governments will continue to work collaboratively with the Australian Government on these programs.

Clever Networks—Members noted that the Clever Networks Guidelines, and call for proposals for the Innovative Services Delivery element, were launched on 31 August 2006. The $113 million Clever Networks program is designed to support sectors such as health, education, community and emergency services to utilise advanced broadband technologies to enhance the delivery of key Government services in regional, rural and remote Australia. Members agreed to work with project proposers across state, territory and local government jurisdictions to ensure that the development of proposals is in line with the objectives of OCC jurisdictions.

It was noted that the closing date of late November will create difficulties for participation by Victoria due to their election on 25 November 2006. The Australian Government agreed to consider a response to this issue.

Broadband Connect—Members noted that the Australian Government advised they had received a strong and enthusiastic response to the Broadband Connect Request for Expression of Interest (EOI). Broadband Connect is an $878 million program to give regional Australians equitable access to high quality broadband services.

The EOI outlined an alternative infrastructure-based approach to achieving this objective for under-served areas across regional, rural and remote Australia. Members were encouraged that several respondents indicated that, if the Australian Government were to proceed with the alternative approach outlined in the EOI, there would be interest by industry in developing collaborative proposals for major national or regional infrastructure projects that would result in well developed, end-to-end solutions of significant scale. Members agreed that this program should address under-served areas as a priority, and noted the success to date of the incentive-based arrangement to attract new broadband services.

Mobile Connect—Members noted that the $30 million Mobile Connect program will extend mobile phone coverage in smaller regional communities and along highways. This will happen where a case for strategic location or economic importance can be established and where services will have ongoing commercial viability. The program also extends the existing Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme until June 2009.

Backing Indigenous Ability—Members noted the $89.9 million Backing Indigenous Ability program will improve communications services in remote Indigenous communities. The program will build community capacity and will implement programs to increase access to, and use of, telephones, Internet, videoconferencing, online content and training. It will also replace ageing and unreliable radio infrastructure and strengthen access to the cultural benefits of Indigenous television. It was acknowledged there should be linkages between Backing Indigenous Ability and other Connect Australia programs.

Broadband Policy

Ministers noted progress by the National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group (NBSIG) in addressing a range of priority issues identified by the Council at its last meeting in August 2005. These priorities focus on the how governments can collaborate and take advantage of the opportunities provided by next generation networks through the effective use of broadband content and applications in the government sector.

Going forward, Ministers agreed that there should be continued collaboration relating to advanced broadband issues, including in greenfield and brownfield sites, and the development of new sustainable investment models and related funding challenges in addressing market failure.

Council also noted the important role governments can play in stimulating broadband demand and its effective use by providing digital content in priority sectors. Ministers agreed to refer a number of digital content issues and opportunities to the relevant Ministerial Councils in education, health and cultural sectors for consideration and action.

Council also endorsed the NBSIG to investigate and progress a number of networking issues and opportunities and support other digital content issues where appropriate. Two examples are the potential to establish links between educational and cultural organisations, and the need to maximise the availability and utilisation of Australia's digitised cultural collections.

Ministers also noted the work of the NBSIG in developing the NBSIG Yearly Update 2005 which measures the progress and outcomes against the 11 key performance indicators.  Measurement of Australia's broadband performance is a key component of the Broadband Blueprint.

Building Australia's Information And Communications Technology Capability

Ministers noted progress in a range of areas to improve Australia's underlying information and communications technology (ICT) capability and agreed to continue their efforts to build this key enabler for the Australian economy. A number of key ICT capability issues considered by the Council.

ICT skills—The Council noted the work of the ICT Skills Foresighting Working Group, and the release of its report Building Australian ICT Skills in June 2006. In addition, Ministers heard with interest a report by the Director General of the Department of Public Works Queensland, Mr Mal Grierson, on the National IT Skills Summit held in Brisbane in June 2006. Both these activities provide a useful framework for all key stakeholders (government, industry and the education sector) to address the issues facing the ICT skills market in Australia. Victoria offered to chair a national group to work collaboratively with other states and territories, the Australian Government, industry and educational institutions on an ICT careers awareness campaign.

Western Australia noted that ICT skills enable non-ICT industry sectors to positively impact industry and economic growth. This is reflected in industries such as mining and petroleum. ICT enables companies to be competitive in the global supply chain, which is supported by effective skills development.

Most recent ABS survey data indicates there are approximately 30 000 ICT employees across the three tiers of government in Australia. Council recognises that the current and emerging ICT skills issues have potential consequences for the speed at which “connected government” can be achieved.

To address this issue, Council noted some of the initiatives underway across jurisdictions to better understand current and future skill requirements of governments, which will provide collaborative strategies to address these skill gaps. Such initiatives include marketing ICT as an attractive career, development of skills and competencies frameworks, together with cadetship, apprenticeship and graduate development programs.

Government ICT procurement—The Council noted ongoing efforts to further align contracting arrangements and, where appropriate, develop strategies that incorporate the strengths of the various contracting methodologies. The current Australian Government policy provides for flexibility in terms of supplier IP ownership. However, the new SourceIT (former GITC) Model Contracts will give greater prominence to the option of the supplier retaining ownership. Victoria's progress was noted in modifying its default position in relation to ownership of intellectual property in software created by contractors under Government ICT contracts.

ICT trade and investment attraction—The Council noted a set of principles and an action plan which aims to achieve better coordination and collaboration between jurisdictions and organisations in promoting Australia's ICT capability internationally. It was also noted that improvement needs to occur, but further agreement is subject to funding.

Ministers noted the five priority events identified by CoMICTA for 2007 and agreed that Australia's involvement at these events is important in relation to market development initiatives.

ICT statistics—Ministers noted the work of the ICT Capability in the Information Economy Working Group to improve the quality, range, availability and timeliness of core ICT capability related data and information. The Council agreed to the working group developing a potential cross-jurisdictional funding model to support improved ICT data collection and analysis.

Strengthening the digital content sector—Ministers noted the work of the working group supporting engagement with industry in progressing implementation of their development plan based on the key recommendations in the Digital Content Industry Action Agenda Report.

Connected Government

Most significant changes in government service delivery involve some form of ICT as an important enabler or facilitator.

The Cross-Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers' Committee was established by Council at its meeting in August 2005 to address e-government issues that span jurisdictional boundaries to improve service delivery and efficiency across Australian Governments.

To achieve this objective, the committee has been collaborating in five e-government areas: trusted and connected government, skills and sourcing, shared services, project management and service delivery measurement.

Significant progress has been made on components of these five focus areas, specifically relating to the smartcard and authentication frameworks, ICT procurement, consistent approaches to recording name and address, ICT skills, project management, and service delivery measurement.

Australian Government Smartcard Framework—The first two elements of the Australian Government Smartcard Framework, the Overview and Principles and the Smartcard Handbook were launched on 29 June 2006. This framework is intended to promote consistent and interoperable approach to the use of smartcard technology within and between jurisdictions.

Today the Council started on this path by agreeing in principle that:
(1) the principles outlined in the Australian Government Smartcard Framework become the national smartcard principles; and
(2) there is a need to adopt a consistent standards-based approach to smartcard implementations across all levels of government in Australia, as set out in the framework.

Council noted that any proposed cross-jurisdictional smartcard implementation will be considered on a case by case basis and will require significant work to identify and resolve specific implementation issues.

Online services—Seamless access to online services is underpinned by policies and procedures to authenticate citizens and businesses. The Council agreed that the principles detailed in the Australian Government e-Authentication Framework for Individuals, Overview and Principles be included in authentication frameworks developed by the jurisdictions. These principles will be referenced when designing and implementing the electronic delivery of services to individuals where those individuals are required to verify their entitlement to obtain those services. Agreement is subject to relevant jurisdictional legislation.

Procurement—Council agreed to work in collaboration with the Australian Procurement and Construction Ministerial Council (APCMC) to ensure a nationally consistent ICT procurement contractual framework, which will incorporate a risk management approach to liability in ICT contracts and a national framework for sustainable ICT equipment disposal.

National name and address XML schema—Name and address is perhaps the most commonly used piece of information between agencies and jurisdictions. It is used in almost all government forms and processes from business licence renewals, property development statements and grant applications to worker compensation forms, income reporting, superannuation contributions and payroll tax.

Council noted the successful completion of an e-government standard known as the National Name and Address XML Schema for handling the electronic exchange of name and address information. Council also agreed to a process for ensuring the continuing development and maintenance of standards across jurisdictions.

Project management—All jurisdictions support improved service delivery and efficiency across government with a particular emphasis on improved project management. Council noted work undertaken by jurisdictions to share and improve project management methodologies, capabilities, tools, and ICT business case frameworks.

Service delivery management—Based on the recently released report Australians' Use of and Satisfaction with e-Government Services—2006, the Internet was the only mode of contact that increased in usage across all levels of government. Community and social services remained the most common government services accessed by more than one service delivery channel. The report also found that in-person contact continued to be the most common channel used to contact Australian governments.

Council agreed that such outcomes from the survey are useful in informing future service delivery measurement activities. Council further agreed to develop metrics that will assist in measuring progress with service delivery improvement, particularly for services involving more than one Australian government.

Spatially Enabled Government

Council agreed that research into, and the facilitation of, spatially-enabled government is an exciting area for government. Spatially-enabled government uses place or location to manage and integrate government services and enhance business opportunities.

Council noted the Australian Government's intentions to look for opportunities in all new projects to design policy, programs and services that make full use of spatial data that is available from public and private sources.

Council also noted Victoria has developed and successfully deployed an address management framework—the Victorian Mapping and Address Service (VMAS). VMAS incorporates components of a spatial environment. Based on progress by Victoria, Council agreed to develop a national address management framework in partnership with the Public Sector Mapping Agencies (PSMA) and ANZLIC—the spatial information council.

Future Use Of Spectrum Allocation

Council considered a paper tabled by the New South Wales government which discussed the potential for digital television to provide a platform for delivering government information and video services direct to the Australian public. Council noted progress of a successful trial being conducted by the New South Wales government of this method of delivering government services. Minister Coonan undertook to keep the Council informed of developments associated with allocation of digital television spectrum.

Climate Change

Ministers considered ICT and climate change in response to a Council of Australian Governments request (10 February 2006) for all Ministerial Councils to consider any climate change implications of their decisions and activities.

The Ministers agreed that ICT has a key enabling role in this high priority area.

The following key points were raised:

• ICT underpins climate change research, including modelling and forecasting, and advances in ICT, particularly in information processing, will assist Australia's climate change modelling and research capability.
• A number of domestic ICT systems and technologies are in use or under development that assist in understanding and modelling climate change and in mitigating contributing factors, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Information and communications systems will also play a key role in managing natural disasters that may be associated with climate change. At the same time this critical infrastructure is vulnerable due to projected increases in temperatures and severe weather events.
• Unlike industry sectors such as electricity, transport, and iron and steel, ICT is not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the increasing diffusion of ICT will have flow on effects through higher power requirements.

Council agreed to continue to consider climate change issues in their decisions and noted that ICT has an important role in helping to both abate and adapt to climate change.

Next Meeting

New South Wales agreed to host the next Online and Communications Council meeting in 2007.

Media contacts:
Jane McMillan, Senator Coonan's Office, 0438 690 305
Sandy Swanton, Council Secretariat, 0401 716 220

8 September 2006