ISOC hails government and opposition digital initiatives

The Internet Society of Australia has welcomed initiatives from both the government and Opposition aimed at fostering the development of a digitally-enabled economy.

In a response to the 2015 Budget and Labor's Budget Reply, Internet Society of Australia CEO Laurie Patton said innovation will be key to creating jobs of the future.

The Coalition’s 2015 budget includes a $254.7 million investment in its Digital Transformation Agenda, including $96.4 million towards establishing a Digital Transformation Office to ensure that as many government services as possible can be completed entirely online.

“The announcement of funding for the Office of Digital Transformation is an important recognition of the need to embrace digital technologies in improving productivity,” Patton said.

“It shows the way forward for other governments and for businesses. Innovation is the answer to how we create 21st-century jobs, both for young people entering the workforce and mature aged workers being displaced as our marketplace restructures.”

Labor’s Budget reply meanwhile included promises aimed at improving STEM skills, including ensuring that coding and computer science are taught in all Australian schools.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also pledged that a Shorten Labor government would establish a $500 million smart investment fund.

Patton said that these initiatives would also provide a much-needed boost to innovation.

“As the peak organisation representing everyone who uses the internet we are keen to encourage governments ... to embrace the internet as the engine that will drive our economic prosperity by enabling us to create new industries, new products and services, and above all new employment options.”

Pictured: Internet Society of Australia CEO Laurie Patton