Twenty industry groups are hoping their collective weight behind a new plan for the long term success of IT in Australia will help gain government support.
The National ICT Industry Alliance (NICTIA), a group of IT industry associations, has released its 10-year strategic vision for industry development. The document proposes policy principles in areas such as marketing of the industry overseas, skills, entrepreneurship, ICT literacy and regulatory policy.
The Alliance includes the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association, Communications Alliance and others.
NICTIA president Tony Hill said this was the first time 20 industry groups had come together to collaborate on industry development.
"We're taking an industry led approach and asking the government to join the party," he said.
"It may or may not involve funding. "We're looking for more creativity [by government] in how policies are put together."
The statement does not recommend specific policies, but instead identifies the areas where NICTIA claims policy development is required.
The vision calls for government assistance in improving the speed of technology commercialisation, helping Australian IT companies progress in overseas markets, and improving professional standards and skills domestically, among other areas.
"People have been saying we need to be smart users of technology, but we haven't necessarily been focusing on industry and development," said Hill.
A notable exception in the support of the vision statement is the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA). The vendor group will continue with its own approach to lobbying government, but remains a NICTIA member.
NICTIA representatives will discuss the vision statement with government and opposition senators at an ACS council meeting this week.
