ACS calls on candidates to make tech a priority

The upcoming federal election represents an opportunity to lay the groundwork for building Australia’s technology sector, according to the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

The industry group called on all political parties and candidates to recognise the importance of the technology industry to Australia’s economy and society during the campaign.

ACS President Nick Tate said whichever party wins government will need to focus on building the nation’s digital skills.

“As the past two years have shown, technology is essential in keeping industry and the economy moving, while the plans to build Australian advanced manufacturing and space industries are going to need an increasingly high-skilled, digitally literate workforce,” he said.

“Our annual Digital Pulse survey forecasts an annual shortfall of 60,000 IT workers and that gap is only going to widen as our need for cybersecurity specialists and other technology professionals increases.”

ACS is advocating for the next government elect to commit $500 million to develop a trainee program aimed at women and groups not well represented in the IT sector, providing employees a subsidy of $20,000 for 5000 places a year over five years.

In addition, ACS has called for a $100 million program to improve digital technology education in skills, tax credits of up to $10,000 per employee for businesses providing staff vocational technical training in high-demand areas such as AI and cybersecurity, and a $500 million program to support regional councils and local groups to provide hubs aimed at improving the digital literacy of their communities and local businesses.

Other policy recommendations include the creation of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology within the Department of Parliamentary Services to provide MPs and Senators with advice and guidance on science technology matters, as well as a $100 million program to eliminate online scams and text messages.

ACS also joined its fellow industry group the Australian Industry Information Association in calling for the creation of a cabinet-level digital economy ministerial portfolio.

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