Qld ICT group rejects interference claims
The Queensland ICT Industry Workgroup has rejected claims made by former Software Queensland board member Bruce Mills of any political interference affecting the group's function.
(Gagged Geek image by Tony Kennick, CC2.0)
The workgroup, which aims to represent and advocate Queensland's ICT industry in business and government, was the target of criticism by Mills, who believed it had become gagged because of funding flowing from the government.
Following Mills' resignation from Software Queensland last month, the workgroup today rejected his claims of political influence.
"We reject any claims that the workgroup has, or would yield to external pressure, from any quarter, to restrain it from fearlessly presenting the collective views of the Queensland ICT industry," the group said in a media release.
"Recent comments by Mr Mills imply that the industry body has allowed itself to be restrained from promoting the ICT industry's interests. The affiliated associations reject this claim without reservation and continue to support the workgroup in its role as an important advocate for the Queensland ICT industry."
The statement was endorsed by the eight ICT associations that sponsor the ICT Industry Workgroup, including Software Queensland.
Mills responded to the release on his blog, saying it was "another example of how spineless the ICT Workgroup has become under the continued pressure from [Queensland IT] Minister [Simon] Finn".
He said that it ignored his previous criticisms and concerns, including why he was singled out for asking questions and why certain reports had not yet been delivered.
Mills also said he was waiting for the Workgroup's comments on various ICT projects he had criticised in the past, but suspected that "hell [would] freeze over before they [said] anything remotely critical of their sponsors".
Mills' protest resignation has attracted attention from Queensland's Shadow IT Minister Ros Bates, who claimed that Finn had "simply forced him out", due to Mills' critical blogs about government policies.
However, Finn has stated that there is no basis for accusation.