Criticism of the report rest on the fact it didn't contain concrete measures describing future federal government policy or funding, and no strong objectives or time frames on achievements. The criticism was levelled by industry insiders and the Opposition.
A spokesperson for Alston, the minister of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, who chaired the committee that produced the report, denied the criticisms had merit. "It really provides us with a constructive starting point with the committee," he told ZDNet Australia . "It's not a definitive picture, it's a work in progress."
Kate Lundy, the shadow minister for Information Technology, told ZDNet Australia the Opposition and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry expected more than what was delivered in the report.
"If they're saying [that it's a constructive starting point] they're conceding the whole exercise as being a dismal failure," said Lundy. She said the report was announced as "a blueprint, a strategy for the future...an ultimate report to follow on from all the reports [that had already been done]."
"The government set themselves up to do something significant, that's why they appointed Senator Alston as chair, so he needs to be held accountable," Lundy said, adding that it was for this reason she has called for his resignation.
The spokesperson for the federal minister pointed out the government had already put a number of initiatives in place, including Backing Australia's Ability, NICTA, the Technology Australia promotion and schemes to promote broadband.
"The industry and the government have to work together," he said. "The industry can't wait for the government to do everything, and the government can't wait for industry to do everything. It's a co-operative process." The spokesperson added that while the government didn't dismiss the role of IT manufacturing in creating jobs, it stood by its position of looking at ways to use ICT to improve the economy rather than looking at IT manufacture as a separate issue to be promoted.
The report claimed: "A significant ICT production capability in the economy creates a symbiotic relationship between users and producers such that the level of sophistication of users is enhanced by the presence of producers of ICT goods and services. Without an industry producing such products and services, it would be more difficult for Australia to keep up internationally in terms of their adoption and use."
Lundy was scathing of the government's efforts in the ICT industry thus far, claiming it wasn't until 2000 that it registered industry development as an area government policy should address. She added the ICT deficit was growing, and the government seemed to be actively encouraging that with their policies.
Describing the report as "a series of motherhood statements", Lundy said it detailed things for the states and industry, but failed to detail anything for the federal government to do.
