Page 1027 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 1990
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moment companies in the ACT receive approximately 13 per cent of total funding. There are numerous reasons for this, not least of which is a recognition of the ability of ACT companies to meet purchasing demands, the very high reputation which they enjoy and the innovative character of local producers. The Alliance Government wants to encourage that local attribute of innovation and the national procurement development program is just another means by which we can try to do so.
Finally, Mr Speaker, the purpose of the fourth scheme, the industrial supplies office (ISO) network, is to help industry maximise the Australian contents of its purchases without resorting to uneconomic tariffs and preference margins. It does this by identifying suitable local producers to replace imports. Once again, the potential benefits to the ACT economy and industrial infrastructure are enormous. In the five years that the concept has operated in Australia the ISO Network has generated $280m in import replacement activities for Australian firms.
Participation in all of these programs has the potential to increase research, development and investment in ACT industry and to increase the international competitiveness of ACT manufacturing and service firms. With self-government the ACT now has the opportunity to participate in these programs on an equal footing with the States and the Commonwealth and to ensure that ACT industrial and research priorities are accorded full attention. We have the opportunity to ensure that ACT companies and research institutions have full access to technology and to investment.
These programs are governed by a number of key Commonwealth-State forums which offer the potential for the ACT to ensure that they develop in ways beneficial to local industry and in concert with our economic and industrial strategies. In particular, as Minister responsible for economic and industrial development, I represent the ACT at meetings of the Australian Industry and Technology Council. The objectives of that council are specifically to promote a national coordinated approach to industry and technology policy and restructuring and greater international competitiveness of Australian industry.
Additionally, with the signing of the Australian civil offsets agreement - which we did quite recently - and the national preference agreement, the ACT will be able to participate as an equal partner on the Government Offsets and Procurement Advisory Committee, alongside other State governments, the Commonwealth Government and with peak industry and employee organisations.
Although the benefits of participation in these programs and forums is very high in industrial and economic terms, I believe there is also a spin-off in all this beyond industry policy. Increasing our activities in these areas will greatly assist in maximising industrial development
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