Post-election agenda for AEEMA

A principal objective will continue to be building up political and bureaucratic support for policies and programs that enhance value-adding in the ICT, electronics and electrical manufacturing industries.

These will need to address innovation, research and development, and design through smart manufacturing, and building up linked services and systems in the related supply chains. AEEMA has been reassured by comments made by government ministers during the election campaign of the commitment to fostering niche, high-tech manufacturing in Australia; a position that AEEMA knows is strongly supported by the Labor opposition.

Other imperatives need immediate attention. The telecommunications sector of the ICT industry is going through a very difficult period at present. AEEMA believes that it can work effectively with the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and the National Office for the Information Economy to make sure other areas of the bureaucracy are aware of what is driving the industry, the global consolidation/restructuring, and implications for the ICT industry in Australia across all sectors.

On the other hand, the pre-election announcement by the prime minister of a proposed business-government task force on critical infrastructure will provide business with greater input into the assessment of current arrangements to protect key infrastructure sectors.

With the newly formed Strategic Leaders Group for the Electronics Industry Action Agenda meeting later this month, AEEMA will be actively engaged over the next six to nine months in identifying and mapping out opportunities for the electronics and photonics industries.

Recent developments with the Kyoto protocol present opportunities for the industry to lobby government for the introduction of incentives to stimulate the local development of energy-efficient products and services.

AEEMA also needs to keep the government committed to the total package of 'Backing Australia's Ability' (R&D, innovation, education, skills development etc) irrespective of what difficult times may lay ahead for Australia. There is no room for Australia to fall back in this area. Its future depends on a commitment to this program and a willingness to find other means of backing Australia's competitive advantages, wherever they might be identified by AEEMA and others active in this area.

Item provided courtesy of AEEMA.