The Australian Computer Society has welcomed the high level investment in Australia’s communications infrastructure, education and innovation initiatives outlined in the 2008-09 budget.

However, the organisation is calling to increase efforts to develop an overarching national ICT strategy with a greater focus on the sector.

ACS national president, Kumar Parakala said although there are some significant wins for the technology sector within the budget, "the government also needs to recognise the ICT sector as a major area of future growth, and a powerful industry that is a powerful economic sector in its own right. The challenge for the ICT sector right now is more about focus than funding."

Parakala said the ACS is happy with the allocation of "substantial budget to infrastructure, health systems and research and higher education".

The organisation is renewing its call for an agreed national ICT strategy. “Beyond funding, there needs to be a way of centralising the focus on the sector, and creating accountability for spending and outcomes. The export focus goes some way to meeting previous calls by the ACS to promote the Technology Australia brand, however without a national ICT strategy, this opportunity may be lost."

The ACS said the general export focus provides opportunities for the ICT sector to "grow offshore services, aligning the inward and outward investment functions in the same organisation, by folding Invest Australia and the Global Opportunities program into Austrade".

Parakala will be seeking focused policy discussion with the government in the coming months around key areas on innovation, skills and scoping and supporting the growth of the digital economy.

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