Fact sheet 8: Information Communications Technology (ICT)
During the 2004 election, the Australian Government announced the Metro Broadband Blackspots program. This commitment is reflected in the budget papers with $50 million allocated over three years. The program will target areas where there is a lack of suitable communications network infrastructure or where it is unlikely that commercial activity will result in access to equitably priced broadband services in an acceptable timeframe.
ALGA has written to Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan suggesting local government should be contracted to roll out the program. Local government is in an ideal position to deliver the goals of the program. The roll out would involve identifying relevant blackspots, aggregating demand, determining priorities and collaborating with a carrier to provide digital subscriber line at a rate capable of delivering a full range of services.
A further election commitment, the Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund, was funded in the Budget. The Government will provide funding of $50 million over three years (including $6.5 million in 2004-05) for a competitive grants program to encourage local governments to reduce regulatory complexity and compliance requirement for home-based businesses. Funding for this program is included as an Special Purpose Payment (SPP) to local government (see Fact Sheet: 2: Financing local government). $4.4 million has been allocated to each state and territory in 2005-06, however this is a notional split only, with the actual allocations be based on an assessment of applications made to the fund.
The Government will provide $36.4 million over four years to continue the Business Entry Point website. The Business Entry Point provides a single point of contact for business to deal with all spheres of government, including streamlined access to information and online transaction facilities in a range of areas, including start-up advice, taxation and licensing requirements, and business assistance program. Funded through existing monies (savings from other programs), the measure involves funding of $9 million in 2005-06, $9.1 million in 2006-07, $9.2 million in 2007-08 and $9.3 million in 2008-09.
