Broadband boost a must for Australia, new report says
November 26, 2007
Australia will continue to lag internationally without much better information and communication technology, according to a report released today from top economic forecasters, National Economics.
Prepared for peak body, the Australian Local Government Association, the State of the Regions Report 2007-08 notes the lack of government action is particularly apparent for high speed broadband.
"We must strengthen local government's use of information and communication technology," ALGA President Cr Paul Bell says at the report’s launch in Darwin at the National General Assembly of Local Government. "The nation must plough ahead with a robust investment in broadband. As the State of the Regions report has shown, existing businesses across Australia's regions are forgoing $3 billion annually in income resulting in the loss of some 30,000 jobs. In addition to this, the future economy is further constrained through the loss of capacity to develop information-based enterprises.
"In particular, broadband will have a stunning effect on the ability of regions to boost exports, as well as doing its bit for climate change by managing energy use through video-conferencing, e-health and providing education, business and entertainment on-line and giving all Australians the choice of not needing to undertake unnecessary travel."
The report shows that Australia was behind the OECD standard last year and the gap is widening.
"The regions that would benefit most are those that need it most, particularly agricultural production regions such as South Australia’s Murray Lands."
The reports look at 64 regions. This provides greater insight into what is really going on across Australia. It enables policies to be adjusted to meet the real problems of our regions.
"International standard telecommunications – particularly high speed broadband – would allow our regional business enterprises to connect with their markets," Cr Bell states. "As well this technology would link our farmers to new industries and markets."
Discussing the costs of inferior internet access, the National Economics report states the costs of this poor access to Australian businesses have risen as Australia's telecommunications imbroglio continues to constrain business activity.
To make matters worse, the report stresses, progress towards delivering cost competitive, world best practice broadband speeds to non-metropolitan Australia during the past 12 months "can, at best, be described as slow."
The Report can be ordered from the ALGA website: www.alga.asn.au
- Contact
- Amanda Lynch, Director, Government Relations – 0419 123 862 / 02 6122 9434
- National Economics: Ian Manning on 0419 262344 or Peter Hylands 0419 343921
