Changes afoot at Internet Australia

The director and former president of Internet Australia (IA), Narelle Clark, has announced her resignation.

Clark has been on the board for almost 15 consecutive years and until recently also served on the board of trustees of the global Internet Society. She is currently deputy CEO of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.

The announcement follows a number of board changes throughout the year that will allow the organisation to adapt as Australia takes its place in the emerging digitally enabled global economy.

Two new directors were elected to the board at the AGM earlier in the month — Anne Hurley and Sae Ra Germaine.

IA Chair George Fong has paid tribute to Clark’s many years of service.

“Narelle is an internet stalwart whose long commitment has been of enormous benefit to the organisation. Not only has she contributed locally, Narelle has been active internationally, most recently playing a significant role in the ICANN Transition Work Group’s IANA negotiations that will see the United States cede control of vital internet functions to a new multistakeholder group,” said Fong.

The company is currently undergoing a transition, altering the way it undertakes its advocacy work.

However, CEO Laurie Patton told members at the AGM that IA would continue its efforts to convince the government to abandon its copper-based multitechnology mix model in favour of a return to a fibre-based broadband network.

“A recent Essential poll found that 88% of respondents see the internet becoming an essential service, like water and electricity. However, only 22% think that the current NBN model will meet Australia’s long-term needs. To me, this says that our work in this area is not yet complete. Clearly, we need to continue to explain why using ageing copper wires will not provide us with a 21st-century NBN,” Patton said.

IA has significantly increased its advocacy efforts on behalf of Australia’s internet users and Patton believes that members should indicate how best to proceed, as well as help the company to acquire the resources to further increase its effectiveness.

In addition to its campaign for a fibre-based NBN, IA will continue to advocate a range of strategies designed to increase access to the internet and to eliminate the digital divide.

“Increasingly, government departments and agencies are calling on us for expert advice and assistance based on the considerable knowledge of our directors and members. This includes the ACCC, the Digital Transformation Agency and the Productivity Commission,” Fong said.

IA has worked in conjunction with the Communications Alliance and finally secured the release of the $128 million package of support for the implementation of the Data Retention Scheme. However, it believes that the legislation is ‘fundamentally flawed’ and will not achieve the government’s stated aims.

The company also continues to campaign against the use of ‘site blocking’ as a means of dealing with the unlawful downloading of content over the internet. It points to a lack of evidence from overseas that blocking pirate sites actually works, while local representatives of the overseas rights holders have not produced evidence of real or substantial revenues losses.

“Our view is that the best solution to this issue is for the overseas rights holders to stop using geoblocking to price gouge and to make their content more readily accessible,” said Patton.

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