ACS calls for increased focus on tech sector

ACS has launched its 2022 Election Platform, calling on the major political parties to increase funding for tech education and regional digital literacy, with a view to boosting the sector.

The organisation says without a focus on building digital skills and improving technology legislation, Australia is at risk of falling behind the rest of the world.

The platform proposes nine measures to boost the nation’s tech sector over the term of the next government:

• A $500m program to boost the technology profession’s diversity and inclusion
• $100m for encouraging digital technologies education in schools
• A $10,000 employer tax credit to improve the workforce’s digital skills
• Stronger cybersecurity rules for government agencies and contractors
• A $100m crackdown on spam and scams
• $500m for growing Australia’s regional digital economy
• Establishment of a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
• Creating a Cabinet-level Digital Economy portfolio
• Establishing a commission to evaluate the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.
   

ACS President Dr Nick Tate said this year’s election comes at an important time for the Australian technology sector.

“The last two years have shown the importance of the sector to the Australian economy. Everything from working from home [to] check-in applications and alleviating supply chain issues hinges on a skilled IT workforce. Expanding this workforce is now essential to maintain the nation’s standard of living and grow our economy,” he said.

The 2022 Election Platform was born out of a series of public and member consultations last year to identify key technology policy priorities that would advance the national interest.

Discussions also focused on Australia’s need to boost its cybersecurity defences given the critical role technology plays across all sectors, as well as dealing with the issue of online fraud and scams that are costing Australians millions of dollars each year.

“The ACS Election Platform lays out a roadmap for the next government — regardless of who wins — to build on the Australian economy’s strength over the last two years and help the nation keep its place in the digital economy,” Tate said.

“As our annual Digital Pulse report shows, we have a chronic shortage of technology workers and many of the measures we propose look to addressing that weakness through reskilling workers, improving IT education and increasing the size of the technology workforce.

“It’s also essential regional Australia is not left out of the future economy and we have proposed programs to grow the technology sector outside the major cities.

“We also need to keep digital infrastructure and our personal technology secure, so we have proposed a number of ideas to ensure the integrity of our government and private infrastructure.

“I urge all parties to consider the proposals we’re making. We look forward to the discussion of Australia’s role in the global digital economy and the jobs of the future during the 2022 election.”

The report can be downloaded from the ACS website using this link.

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