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Digital economy

The Australian Government has made substantial commitments to develop Australia's digital economy, including $4.7 billion investment in the National Broadband Network (NBN), and $1 billion in the Digital Education Revolution.

These Government investments represent the ongoing development of Australia's digital economy. However, there is a need for a strategic discussion on how Australian businesses and innovators will build on these initiatives to:

  • develop new business models and services
  • address ongoing social and economic challenges
  • build skills and capabilities for effective participation in the digital economy
  • deliver productivity and social benefits, and
  • further improve living standards.

The Government is working with business and other stakeholders on the future of Australia's digital economy. Following a series of meetings, the Department is developing a directions paper for the future of the digital economy. The paper will include the role of stakeholders in ensuring that the Government's digital economy initiatives are maximised.

It is also important to consider emerging issues and trends in the digital economy which affect our ability to gain the economic and social benefits from the Government's investment. The process will map out current and proposed activities by all sectors in relation to these issues.

The Department held three workshops on digital economy capabilities, confidence and content issues in August. These workshops were complemented by a high-level forum held in Melbourne on 10 September 2008. The forum was chaired by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and attended by more than 100 representatives from industry, research organisations and various levels of government.

Outcomes from the workshops and forum will be included in the future directions paper for Australia's digital economy.

A 'consultation' draft of the digital economy future directions paper is now available and we would appreciate your comments on it. It aims to identify the themes and suggestions that will inform the action plan of the future directions paper. The consultation draft is not a draft of the final future directions paper, but seeks targeted input on specific implementation steps for maximising the benefits to Australia from the digital economy.

Please send comments on the paper to DEFutureDirections@dbcde.gov.au before Wednesday 11 February 2008. Please provide a response to the top 3 to 5 issues that are priorities for you, either in the form of detailed comments or else marked up in the consultation draft to indicate where additional information would substantially improve the paper or where factual errors occur. Alternatively, feel free to submit a short submission on your priority areas.

  • Document ID: 87474 |
  • Last modified: 19 December 2008, 4:08pm