AIIA's Moon presses Conroy for broadband timetable

Australian Information Industry Association CEO Sheryle Moon has called upon the new Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, to outline a schedule for rolling out a national broadband network.

"The first order of the day for the new Minister must be to provide Australia with a clear timetable for the rollout of a national broadband infrastructure," said Moon in a statement released today.

"Australian business needs this information now if it is to compete successfully in a global marketplace," she said.

Moon has given her stamp of approval to Conroy's new portfolio, particularly its focus on "the digital economy".

"It is important that the ICT industry is recognised at the level of policy and legislation for its wider contribution to Australia's national interests," said Moon.

Moon also expressed the need for her organisation to work with the minister towards "revitalising" research and development and remedying Australia's skills shortage.

The new government should view ICT as overlapping across a number of other important sectors, said Moon, also urging Labor to take a holistic approach to these industries' needs.

"What the industry requires as a priority is clear vision and consistent leadership across many areas of policy -- including education, trade and the environment."

"For an industry that contributes 4.6 percent of GDP, employs 500,000 people, exports AU$5.7 billion in goods and services, and that will enable the solutions to many of Australia's most pressing problems, we hope that nothing less is considered," said Moon.