Communications News

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan

Minister for Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts

Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate

In this issue

• Minister’s message
• Launch of BroadbandNow
• Clever Networks provides clever solutions to rural and remote Australia
• National Indigenous Television launch
• Digital conversion of self-help television retransmission sites
• Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme
• News in brief
  • - Executive Director of Digital Australia
• Portfolio profile—Australia Business Arts Foundation

How to keep our children safe in the complex online environment worries many parents. The world leading, $189 million NetAlert-Protecting Australian Families Online initiative has now gone live. Parents, grandparents and carers can download a free filter for their home computer and access real, practical tips to manage their children’s internet experience.

As we all know, the internet has changed our world forever. It has revolutionised how we communicate and educate. But although the internet is a wonderful resource, the dangers lurking just a click away can make the internet a frightening experience for Australian families.

Parents and carers have long been able to protect their children from offensive content by switching off the TV, supervising their choice of DVD or by monitoring what books and magazines their children have access to. They are able to ensure that their children do not come into contact with unsavoury characters by ensuring that they are not out late at night or left home alone.

But tackling the dangerous side of the internet poses two main challenges: the content available online and most concerning, unsuspecting children being contacted by online predators. Time and time again, families have expressed concern about stranger contact online—predators using the internet to meet and groom children.

The Australian Government recognises that no single measure can protect children from online harm and in fact, traditional parenting skills have never been more important. Tackling internet safety can be compared to wearing a seatbelt. Although a seatbelt goes a long way to protecting you in a car accident, it is only one part of the solution to keeping safe on the roads.

That is why we are addressing the problem not only with the free filters but also making the online experience safer by arming Australian families with practical support. Australia now leads the world in online safety.

NetAlert-Protecting Australian Families Online is a comprehensive approach that will tackle the problem from every angle and goes beyond just technology.

Under the NetAlert initiative, the Government will provide an additional $43.5 million over four years to the AFP’s dedicated Online Child Sex Exploitation Team (OCSET) and its hi-tech crime units enabling the deployment of 36 new staff in 2007–08 rising to an additional 90 staff by 2009–10.

A Working Group has been convened to report on the nature and scope of the criminal threat posed by social networking sites for grooming children for sexual offences. The Working Group will report on existing measures and suggest reforms that could assist in providing children with more protection when they use these sites.

Every Australian family can now access a free filter through the National Filter Scheme. This will allow families to tailor their child’s internet experience. These filters will not only blacklist content identified by ACMA but will also allow the blocking of chat rooms, peer to peer contact and email.

No technology is foolproof and as the online world increasingly becomes an everyday part of our children’s lives, new facets that trouble parents will emerge. They can be assured that the Howard Government will continue to tackle the unsavoury side of the internet to keep our children safe online.

Parents, grandparents and carers can visit www.australia.gov.au/netalert and call 1800 880 176 for information about how to best protect their children online and to download free filters.

I hope you enjoy the sixth issue of Communications News.

Kind Regards,

HELEN COONAN
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate

I was pleased to launch BroadbandNow—a new customer information service to help consumers find out how to access broadband. Consumers can visit the website (www.broadbandnow.gov.au) or call 1800 883 488 from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday (EST) for information on broadband.

BroadbandNow provides a central point of access to broadband information and resources, including:

• choosing a broadband service
• finding broadband providers and services in your area (using the online broadband service locator)
• available broadband technology choices
• how to resolve problems with your broadband service
• details on Australian Government broadband assistance programs for consumers and broadband initiatives
• pricing and coverage maps for the new $1.8 billion OPEL Network that is being supported by a $600 million competitive grant and an additional $358 million in Australian Government funding to ensure broadband is available to 99 per cent of premises.

Broadband technology in the Australian Government’s Clever Networks program is revolutionising key sectors like education and health.

The $113 million Clever Networks program, part of the $1.1 billion Connect Australia package, is enabling the roll out of broadband infrastructure and innovative services to regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

On 30 August 2007, I announced six new projects to receive funding under round two of the Innovative Services Delivery element of the Clever Networks program. These projects, including the 16 from round one brings the total number of Innovative Services Delivery projects to 22 announced so far.

I also announced the Broadband Development Network which will comprise up to 25 individuals across Australia who will assist regional communities to enhance understanding of, access to and use of broadband. Each state and territory has been invited to co-fund a Broadband Project Manager to work at a state or territory level on strategic broadband development priorities. Broadband Project Officers working on implementing priority regional broadband projects will complement this.

I congratulate all those who have devoted their time and expertise to these projects and I look forward to hearing of their successes.

In July, I helped launch Australia’s first National Indigenous Television service (NITV).

Its development follows the trailblazing efforts of Indigenous Community Television and is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving communications services in remote, regional and urban Indigenous communities.

The Government is providing $50 million over four years from 2006–07 to develop NITV as part of the Backing Indigenous Ability measures.

The service targets both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and is a wonderful opportunity for all Australians to see and hear Indigenous stories.

The service will provide Indigenous news, children’s television, drama and other entertainment reflecting the breadth of our Indigenous communities.

NITV has begun broadcasting on Imparja’s Channel 31 on the Aurora satellite, and future ventures with community television, pay television, SBS and the ABC are expected to follow soon.

NITV will bring substantial additional funding for the commission and production of Indigenous television content in Australia.

For more information about NITV, please visit www.dcita.gov.au/bia

Ready, Get Set, Go Digital, the Australian Government’s roadmap for the conversion of Australian television from analogue to digital was released in November 2006.

Today, industry figures suggest that approximately 96 per cent of the population has access to at least one free-to-air digital television service. In addition, some 90 per cent have access to all digital services intended for their area. These services are provided by broadcaster-operated networks.

Many small communities are still beyond the existing broadcaster-operated transmission networks. For these communities to gain access to free-to-air television, a significant number of them operate retransmission facilities under self-help arrangements.

The Australian Government is examining ways in which these small communities can make the transition to digital. To assist with this consideration, I released a discussion paper seeking comments on the issues raised by the conversion of self-help retransmission sites. Submissions closed in early August.

For further information, please visit www.dcita.gov.au/digital_television

The Australian Government is continuing to help people living or working in the most remote parts of Australia to purchase satellite mobile phones through its Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme.

A new level of subsidy of up to $1100 is now available to applicants who live or work in areas beyond CDMA, 3G or GSM terrestrial mobile coverage.

The Scheme is open to individuals, small businesses, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, Indigenous Corporations, volunteer emergency services and educational institutions.

Applicants submit an application form to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. If approved, they then purchase a satellite mobile phone through a registered dealer. The dealer deducts the subsidy from the retail price of the phone and is reimbursed by the Department

Satellite phone dealers can participate in the Scheme by registering with the Department. The Scheme will operate until June 2009.

For more information visit www.dcita.gov.au/satphone, phone 1800 674 058 (free call from a fixed phone) or email satphone@dcita.gov.au

Executive Director of Digital Australia

Andrew Townend has been appointed Executive Director of Digital Australia and he recently began in this role. Digital Australia is a new part of my department, tasked with coordinating the transition to digital television.

Mr Townend’s considerable experience will be invaluable in achieving a smooth transition from analogue to digital television in Australia. Since 2005, Mr Townend had been the Chief Operating Officer of DigitalUK (the body coordinating the switchover to digital television in the United Kingdom) and he previously held senior positions with the BBC and Ernst and Young.

More information on Australia’s plans for switching to digital television is available by accessing the publication, Ready, Get Set, Go Digital—A Digital Action Plan for Australia.

The Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) is a company of the Australian Government, established in 2000 to promote private sector support for the arts. This is achieved through its partnering, volunteering and giving programs.

The partnering program helps to build relationships. AbaF creates opportunities for arts and business organisations to network and explore partnership possibilities. The volunteering program creates opportunities for people from the business and arts sectors to work together, strengthening management and governance in the arts sector. Finally, the giving program promotes and facilitates donations to the arts and cultural sector.

In the last financial year, AbaF supported more than $1 million in grants for artists and arts organisations, and the number of donations received has more than doubled since 2005–06, with the total amount donated nationally growing by $160 121.

AbaF is unique in its capacity to receive gifts, provide tax-deductible receipts to donors and pass the donations on to individual artists, small arts groups and community-based cultural organisations. This is of particular benefit to individual artists and small or emerging arts organisations.