Page 494 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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deliver excellence in ICT research and to create future wealth and commercial outcomes for Australia. NICTA has five major research laboratories, with one in Canberra.
The proposed funding increase is $1.8 million over the current funding agreement. This will build on the significant support that the ACT has already provided to NICTA. It is worth reminding members that we were a founding member of NICTA and that the government’s contribution has been a total of $26.35 million over the past decade. This funding helped to establish NICTA’s Canberra research laboratory a decade ago and has allowed it to continue its excellent work since then.
NICTA’s Canberra staff include 55 full-time researchers and 50 PhD students. They are working with government agencies, the Australian National University, the University of Canberra and Canberra-based businesses to develop the technologies that will meet the current and future needs of the territory as well as of the nation.
An important feature of this new funding agreement is the government’s and NICTA’s joint desire to deepen research and support relationships with ACT government agencies and articulating NICTA’s undertakings about Canberra-centric projects. Over the next few months the government and NICTA will establish a number of projects where NICTA’s advanced ICT expertise can add value to the issues that we face as a service deliverer.
I am delighted that the ACT government’s long-term commitment to the NICTA Canberra research laboratory will continue. We as a government are committed to fostering the development of world-class, high-tech and innovative industry and research in the territory. We recognise NICTA as a key partner in our desire to establish Canberra as a centre for world-class ICT research, commercialisation, business development and usage.
I look forward to maintaining and building on the already close partnership between NICTA, the ACT government and our local partner organisations.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Yes. Minister, can you please explain the benefits of the ACT government’s involvement in NICTA?
MR BARR: The ACT government’s involvement in NICTA will bring considerable benefits—for the government, for local businesses and for the Canberra community. Not only does NICTA provide jobs and training in highly skilled and specialised fields, it provides research and development that will help governments and citizens in Canberra and around Australia, and also will attract research and development funding to the territory.
Over the next few months the government and NICTA will establish a number of projects where NICTA’s advanced ICT expertise can add value to the issues we face as a service deliverer. For example, we are keen to see NICTA’s progress in its e-health living lab concept here in Canberra, and draw in the research and clinical
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