While many industry pundits believe that the ICT revolution is over, there is strong evidence that the past 20 years were just the warm-up, with the tools that enable collaboration and connection being forged, sharpened and distributed.

The real revolution is about to begin as the complement-arities between the tools start to work together and flatten the playing field. ICT will literally transform every aspect of business, life and society.

Developed nations such as Australia operate in services or knowledge economies in which knowledge (rather than the quantity of labour) and technology (as the main productivity facilitator) hold the key to economic growth. In fact, our industry underpins all economic prosperity for current and future Australians.

Australia’s ICT industry delivers 4.6 per cent of the nation’s GDP. And this may be as much as 6 per cent if we take into account the development of in-house software along with goods and services that are offered for sale.

This economic contribution is more than the agriculture, forestry and fishing, defence and education sectors and, at 6 per cent, outstrips the contribution of the mining sector.

Over the past decade the application of ICT solutions has delivered 85 per cent of all productivity gains in the manufacturing industry and 78 per cent in the service sector. 

Australia needs to remain at the forefront of technological innovation. For the ICT industry in Australia, this means focusing not just on the production of ICT goods and services, but on the enabling aspects that ICT can deliver to other industry sectors such as health, security and the environment.

The ICT industry holds the key to solving the bigger issues that face Australia. Whether it be water usage and distribution, carbon trading systems, security, transport or law and order, ICT hardware and software applications will enable the solutions to be modelled, simulated and implemented.

AIIA’s message is simple: ICT is a national priority – it’s time to value ICT.

Sheryle Moon
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Information Industry Association

Last Updated: May 11, 2007
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