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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 5 Hansard (1 May) . . Page.. 1306 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Innovation is a centrepiece of this year's budget. This government has a clear vision for Canberra's future as a centre for innovation. This will help diversify our economy and make us less reliant on the spending patterns of the federal government.

Our citizens are highly educated and highly skilled. They are innovative and enterprising. Innovation is the future of our city. We are committing $11 million in 2001-02, including $4 million in capital expenditure, to establish Canberra Connect, an initiative that will greatly improve access to government services through shopfronts and kiosks, online and by telephone.

Canberra is set to become a national leader in photonics, with the provision of $300,000 to help establish a National Photonics Training Institute, the only one of its kind in Australia. Photonics is the technology of light and has a broad range of applications including high speed communications, data storage, medical imaging systems and sensors. This technology will pave the way for IT industry expansion and job growth. Some $450,000 over three years has been committed to help establish the OECD's Global Biodiversity Information Facility in the ACT.

More than $0.5 million has been allocated to help build the export capability of ACT firms. This will provide a funded export assistance program, export action plans, development of an export capability database and a pilot program of e-commerce for exporting.

Some $750,000 a year is being provided to the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation to continue a consumer marketing and media campaign that will leverage off the Olympics and Centenary of Federation. The funding will also improve IT-based delivery of tourism information and reservation services provided by the corporation. Capital funding of $100,000 will also be provided to establish the Canberra Technology Park in Watson to support our growing multimedia and games industry.

One of the most exciting initiatives in this year's budget is the development of the virtual campus at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Costing $0.5 million in the budget year, the initiative provides for the development of an online virtual campus for the delivery of CIT programs through the Internet. This will enable students to undertake vocational education from their home or workplace.

An important innovation in our schools will be the establishment of an IT centre of excellence. Costing some $0.5 million a year, it will have a hands-on focus for teachers and students and act as a demonstration school of the future. We are also committing $150,000 a year as the ACT's contribution to the development of online curricula for schools through a joint federal and state/territory government project. A further $2.5 million will be allocated to extend the IT Schools Grants program for two years. This allows government schools to provide and maintain schools' IT facilities to give them access to the Internet and national online curriculum resources.

Innovation is also important in our justice system. More than $350,000 a year has been allocated for the introduction of home detention. Significant funding has also been allocated to upgrade our court information and technology support systems, while $300,000 a year has been set aside for the establishment of a computer-based register of territory legislation.

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