The Policy Context

The policy approach for the ICT industry needs to evolve... Traditional industry policy approaches targeted at specific sectors or groups of firms are insufficient to address the longer-term issues facing the industry. The focus needs to be on ensuring that the broad policy environment encourages innovation and risk taking, stimulates the growth and globalisation of new firms, and fosters the widespread use of ICT to achieve productivity benefits and other broad national objectives. Enabling Our Future (2004) p. 19

A number of Local, State and Federal documents, inform the policy context for Ballarat ICT 2030. Local policy is contained in Blueprint Ballarat (2004), City of Ballarat Economic Development Strategy (2006) and IT strategic documents - Ballarat IT2010 (1994) and Ballarat the Connected Community: Building on the IT2010 Strategy (2002). State policy is contained in Growing Tomorrow's Industries Today (2001), Connecting Victoria: A Progress Report 1999-2002 (2002) and Victorian Government ICT Industry Plan 2005-2010 (2005). Federal policy is contained in Enabling Our Future (2003) and Australia's Strategic Framework for the Information Economy 2004 - 2006 (2004).

State and Federal policy emphasise the following themes, which are consistent with local policy:

The importance of world-class ICT infrastructure and capabilities.
The notion of ICT not as an entity in and of itself, but moving more toward being a more integral and integrated system underpinning or providing the foundation for literally everything else.
The need for leadership by all levels of government in order to build the profile of ICT and its role in achieving objectives.
The importance of research and development.
The importance of attracting and retaining experts and other skilled employees.
The need for Infrastructure development, which incorporates broadband connectivity and security.
The development of a culture of risk-taking and innovation including opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).