The lack of any changes to the CGT in the finally released Tax
Package could be an indication as to what this government really
thinks about innovation and wealth creation.
BTW, my opinion of the AIIA event is that the first five
speakers:
Mr Alan Baxter - Chairman, Australian Information Industry
Association
Mrs Kate Carnell MLA - Chief Minister, ACT Government
The Hon. John Moore, MP - Minister for Industry, Science and
Technology
Dr Terry Cutler - Deputy Chairman, National Office for the
Information Economy
Dr Roger Buckeridge - Director, Allen & Buckeridge Pty Ltd
contributed nothing to the issue. They have said what they said
before and their vision for the future puts us firmly in the
footsteps of the rest of the world.
However, Mr Bob Mansfield - Strategic Investment Co-Ordinator,
Invest Australia and direct report to John Howard as Major
Project Facilitator was brilliant, even though he did not talk
about IT&T. In fact the lack of any IT&T major project - defined
as over $50m - was seen by Alan Baxter as a sad commentary on the
current situation in Australia.
While listening to the re-runs, it struck me that what is seen in
Australia as leading edge IT is actually past the crest of the
wave - we are following, not out in front. Not only that but the
government is actively but unknowingly killing IT innovation in
this country.
Someone at the forum pointed out that Australia is very good at
developing applications. So what does the Federal government do?
Decides to have a Shared Systems Initiative based mainly on
overseas packages and reduce market opportunities for Australian
Apps Developers to grow and develop. Short term cost reduction in
all its glory. Unintended consequnces - not thinking it through.
I'm still wondering what the Software Engineering initiative
announced in the Information Industry Action Agenda is aimed at.
I doubt that it will have much impact on the majority of
Australian application developers.
Australia has a genuine world lead in biotechnology and
agriculture. Lets hope that our political leaders^H^H^H^H^H^H^H
representatives don't stuff that up as well.
-- If the future's looking dark We're the ones who have to shine If there's no one in control We're the ones who draw the line. -- Neil Peart.Regards brd
Bernard Robertson-Dunn Canberra Australia brd@dynamite.com.au