Page 3390 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
One of the other important things we have heard a little bit about is the work NICTA have been doing on renewable energy. They have been working with governments around the world looking at mandating fast adoption of renewable energy generation to secure future energy supplies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. Reducing uncertainty in renewable energy systems development and deployment is the key focus of this NICTA research.
NICTA has been working with the Australian government and industry in developing a world-leading geothermal resource characterisation capability. The platform brings together extremely large and disparate data sets from a variety of remote sensing technologies and, through advanced machine learning techniques, is attempting to de-risk geothermal exploration to make it more commercially competitive with existing technologies. Even in the ACT geothermal has been used in commercial buildings from the work that NICTA has been providing.
In closing, I want to refer to some of our earlier speakers. From Dr Bourke we had a very important line—we will be condemned as ICT followers and not leaders should these cuts go ahead. He said NICTA is entirely switched on and driving innovation. And of course, we heard that under the new arrangements for the federal government cabinet there is no federal minister for science in the first time since 1931.
From Minister Barr we heard about information communication technology, innovation, prosperity and social inclusion. We heard tourism is keenly integrated through ICT giving visitors more enticement to come to Canberra. And government is supporting a wide range of digital technologies.
From Minister Rattenbury we heard about the Canberra Connect app and the fix my street opportunity where you can get potholes, footpaths and those sorts of things repaired through the application being developed by NICTA. We heard about NXTBUS and the real-time information digital displays at bus stops and the availability of real-time information on your PC and mobile devices thanks to the work that NICTA has done.
The Chief Minister talked on digital Canberra and our partnerships with the Business Council. Minister Burch informed us on the digital systems in the ACT school education programs and highlighted the work of Malkara School and its work in helping students with particular needs skilling up on iPad technology. The government is encouraging all students to innovate and make use of digital technologies, all thanks to the work NICTA has been doing.
Mr Hanson said the Canberra Liberals would support this motion, but he has made it very clear that any action we would ask him to take on it will not be supported. We have seen that in the vote on the amendment earlier on. I think we are at risk of not seeing the Liberals do much on this at all.
My final comments are on those of Mr Doszpot who, of course, spoke about my original speech. I am glad Mr Doszpot supports NICTA and the growth of the ACT’s economy, but I am very sad that he made no comment on his party’s plans to slash $42 million from the organisation. Mr Doszpot gave us a litany of great work and
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video