SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, TO AUSTRALIAN COiMPUTER CONFERENCE
26 SEPTEMBER 193
I[ HE, US T RAL i~ COMPUTER CO0NF ER E N'C E IS NO j7 3TDf BL Hr E
T ii Is IS THE 10TH AND IT HAS B( I'llCC ANNU'' LAL H CA:
FOR T: I1E BURGIZZON IfIG COMPUTER INDUSTRY IN' AUSTPAL I A Tr
TOGETHER THE BEST THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS TO OFFER AkND IN', ITS
150 W. ORLD CLASS EXHIBITS REPRESENTS THE LATEST NFODt. lRMATIO
T EC HNiO LOG Y.
THriu. GROWTH OF THE AUSTRALIA,' COlM'PUTER IN -RYIN THE LTo
YEARS HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY FOR SE VERA L YE ARS NO0)~ L
OF EBOTH COMPUTER HARDWARE ANDli SOFTWARE ' HAVE GROWN, 1 AT ANNiUAL
RATES OF BEI: TWE; 7EN 30 AND 40 PER CEN; T, AUSTRA\ LIA IS WV
RECOGNISED AS A VALUABLE TEST MiARKET. IT 1S ALSO AN AGSRESSIVE
MARKE. T W-ITH MOST CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGI ES REPRESENTEID
FIE i) SPLAYS, SEMIINARS AND OTHER EDUCATIOINAL-ACTIVITI17S
ASSOCIATED W-, ITH THIS CONFERENCE PROViDE A VALUABLE OPPORTUNI'! TY FOR
PARTICIPANTS, AND THROUGH THEM THE CON-l'-; UN',, ITY, To ASSESS-THE=
MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN4 THIS MOST CONTEMPORARY OF ll. NDUSIR!, ES,
THE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COiNFEPEiCE ARE COMPLEX,, BUT
CRUCIAL TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH AUSTRALIAN IINDUSTRY M'' UST 1MOV'E.
THE EXTENT AN'-D PERVASIVENESS OF COMPUTER * rEC1HNOLOGIES IS
STRIKING, THERE ARE APPLICATIONS IN MKANY ASPECTS OF ORNET
COM. MERCE, SM"-ALL BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, THE ARTS
AND OTIHER AREAS THE SIZE OF THE INFORMIATION SECTOR, RE'/" EtLED
PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE COMMUNICATIONS MI" D MEDIA NETWORKS,
! S STAGGERIING.
AS A RESULT OP THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE COKIPUTER INDUSTRY, MANY
SECTORS OF THE ECONOM7 ARE ACHIEVI!& INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND
GREATER COMPETITIVENESS,
fIOST OF THE COMPUTER EOUIPNENT SOLD IN AUSTRALIA IS MANUFACTURED
OVERSEAS, THiI S 1G NOT SURPRISING G IVEN THE SIZE OF TFHE I NVESTMENT
I N COMPUTER INDUSTRY iN THE UN ITED STATES, JAPAN AND EUROPE,
THE SMALLER SIZE OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY MEANS THAT WE WILL
ALWAYS HAV'E TO IMPORT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY
AND MUCH OF THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE, IN
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ARE
BECOMING EVER MORE DEPENDENT ON COMPUTERS FOR THE EFFICIENT
CONDUCT OF ALL TYPES OF ACTIVITIESi WE MUST ENSURE THAT'
COMPUTER USERS CONTINUE TO HAVE READY ACCESS TO THE BEST AND-,
LATEST EQUIPMENT AT REASONABLE PRICES,
THERE IS, HOWEVER, ANOTHER SIDE TO THE PICTURE. AS AN ADVANCED
INDUSTRIAL NATION THERE IS A GOOD CASE FOR AUSTRALIA DEVELOPING
BOTH INDIGENOUS HARDWIARE AND SOFTWARE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD REPRESENT AN EFFICIENT USE OF AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES
OF SKILL AND EXPERTISE.
THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING SUCH A CAPACITY, THESE
HAVE INCLUDED THE NON-AVAILABILITY OF FINANCE FOR ENTERPRISES
PROMOTING HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND AN APPARENT LACK OF MANAGERIAL
EXPERTISE AMONG THOSE INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING HIGH
TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES, THE RECENT MOVES BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
STIMULATE THE ESTABL. ISHMENT OF A VENTURE-CAPITAL MARKET IN
AUSTRALIA ARE AIMED AT ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS,
THE MEASURES WE HAVE ANNOUNCED SHOULD LEAD TO SOME $ 40 , ilLION
BEING AVAILABLE TO HIGH RISK INDUSTRY VENTJURES, LACK OF CAPITAL
SHOULD NO LONGER BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENT TO THE ESTAB LISHMENT
OF SUCH EINTERPRISES. THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVES SHOULD ALSO
SEE THE FORMATION IN AUSTRALIA OF MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENtT
COMPANIES. SUCH COMPANIES AFTER ASSESSING EACH VENTURE
IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL AND MARKET PROSPECTS FOR ITS ' RODUCTS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY CAPITAL BUT ALSO OFTEN
BADLY NEEDED MANAGEMENT SKILLs,
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED TO ENSURE THAT THE AUSTRALIAN
COMPUTER INDUSTRY ACHIEVES ITS MAXIIMUM CONTRIBUTION TO THE
ECONOMY. THE OVERALL BENEFITS WILL BE GREATEST IF THE
COMPUTER INDUSTRY STRIVES TO INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS
OF ITS PRODUCTS AND TO MARKET THEM WITH VIGOUR BOTH IN
AUSTRALIA AND OVERSEAS.
LET ME MAKE A POINT IN PASSING ABOUT SOME OF THE APPROACHES
GOVERNMENT RECEIVES FROM PROMOTERS OF THE NEW HIGH TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRIES. W'HILE WE ARE VERY MUCH SYMPATHETIC TO THE
PARTICULAR AND LEGITIMATE NEEDS OF YOUR INDUSTRY IT IS SELFDEFEATING
IF THE GOVERNMENT IS BEING ASKED TO COI. 1IT ITSELF
TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE COMMERCIAL UTILISATION CO CERTAIN
" KEY TECHNOLOGIES", IT IS NEITHER IN THE CONMUNITY'S NOR THE
INDUSTRY'S INTEREST TO MOVE DOWN A TRACK WHICH LOCKS THE
GOVERNMENT INTO CONTINUING ROUNDS OF ASSISTANCE AIMiED AT
ENSURING THE CONTINUED UTILISATION OF TECHNOLOGIES IN
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE ADJUSTMENT TO CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES
SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED,
THE BALANCE IS NOT A; i EASY ONE TO STRIKE, BUT IT IS IMFORTANT
TO THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE OF EFFICIENT INDUSTRY STRUCTURES
IN AUSTRALIA THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME FORMS OF
ASSISTANCE BE FULLY RECOGNISED,
AUSTRALIA CANNOT HOPE TO SPECIALISE IN ALL AREAS OF APPLIED
MICRO-ELECTRONICS, THE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY INITIATED A
MAJOR STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE MAIN AREAS OF AUSTRALIAN COMPETENCE
IN MICRO-ELECTRONICS, THIS STUDY WILL LOOK AT THE WORLD
POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN THIS FIELD, AND IDENTIFY AREAS OF
MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY, IT SHOULD
PROVIDE IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FOR AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES, AND
HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES IN THIS AREA
ARE FOCUSSED AND CO-ORDINATED FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT, THE IAC's
FORTHCOMING REPORT ON THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY SHOULD ALSO BE
OF CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE IN EXPANDING THE DATA BASE,
AUSTRALIA'S LONG-TERM FUTURE LIES IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING
A DYNAMIC COMPETITIVE ECONOMY, SINCE BEING ELECTED TO OFFICE
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT'S OVERRIDING CONCERN HAS BEEN
THE RESTORATION OF A BASIS FOR SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH.
INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION HAS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IF AUSTRALIA
IS TO MAXIMISE ITS GROWTH POTENTIAL SO THAT WE AS A PEOPLE
CAN BE MORE CONFIDENT OF OUR OWN FUTURE WELL-BEING,
IN THIS REGARD AUSTRALIA MUST MOVE TO BUILD MORE DYNAMIC
INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES ACROSS THE BOARD, THE DYNAMIC PROCESSES
OF ADOPTING NEW TECHNOLOGY IS INTEGRAL TO IMPROVING THE
EFFICIENCY OF INDUSTRY, ITS COMPETITIVE PERFORMANCE ; AND ITS
CAPACITY TO GROW.'
THERE IS SIMPLY NO ESCAPING THE FACT THAT INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
BY BOTH NEW AND EXISTING INDUSTRIES IS ESSENTIAL TO AUSTRALIA'S
FUTURE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. NEW TECHNOLOGY IS ONE OF THE
DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE PROCESSES OF ECONOMIC CHANGE WITH
IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE COMPETITIVENESS OF INDUSTRIES,
T I
THROUGH IT WE CAN ANTICIPATE NOT ONLY THE BENEFITS TO ECONOMIC
GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMERGENCE OF NEW INDUSTRY STRUCTURES,
BUT ALSO THE GAINS LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE
REVITALISATION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES,
OTHER COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE PACIFIC REGION, ARE
UNDERTAKING NEW LONG TERM INVESTMENTS, ADOPTING NEW BUSINESS
STRATEGIES AND DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES, IF
WE ARE TO BENEFIT FULLY FROM BEING PART OF THIS DYNAMIC GROWTH
REGION IF WE ARE TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY OUR INDUSTRIES
MUST DEVELOP AND ADOPT NEW TECHNOLOGIES NEW PRODUCTS AND
PROCESSES,
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH MOVING DOWN THIS TRACK,
INNOVATION OFTEN LEADS TO DIRECT DISPLACEMENT OF LABOUR AT THE
POINT WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS INTRODUCED, INDISPUTABLY TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE IS GOING NOT ONLY TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF JOBS, IT IS
ALSO GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR PATTERNS OF
WORK, AT THE SAME TIME CERTAIN INDIRECT EMPLOYMENT
s ./ 6
EFFECTS ARE SOMETIMES ASSOCIATED WITH NEW PROCESSES, NEW
INVESTMENT CAN BOTH INCREASE REAL INCOMES ASSOCIATED W'ITH
THE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND THE OVERALL DEMAND FOR
LABOUR. REAL PRICE REDUCTIONS CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED WITH A
CONSEGUENT INCREASE IN THE REAL DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS,
' WHAT IS NEEDED IS A SENSITIVE, CAREFULLY BALANCED RESPONSE
WHICH RECOGNISES THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AS A
KEY REQUIREMENT IN IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF EXISTING
INDUSTRIES, AND IN DEVELOPING NEW ONES, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING
AND ADDRESSING EFFECTIVELY THE SOCIAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
NEW PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT. A COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED
POLICY APPROACH IS REQUIRED OF THE GOVERNMENT, SUCH AN
APPROACH, THE FRAMEWORK OF AN INDUSTRIAL POLICY, NECESSARILY
INCLUDES THE MAINTENANCE OF SOUND MACRO-ECONOMIC AND TRADE
POLICIES, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF EFFECTIVE CONSULTATICN
REGARDING THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTRODUCTICN OF NEW
TECHNOLOGIES. YET IT MUST BE EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS
PRIMARILY TO PROVIDE A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO VIGOROUS
INNOVATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SO ENCOURAGING NEW INDUSTRIES
AND ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
IN AUSTRALIA SMALL FIRMS HAVE A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
ROLE TO PLAY, THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE ABILITY AS
S./ 7
PURVEYORS OF INNOVATION, PARTICULARLY IN INDUSTRIES
CHARACTERISED BY HIGH GROWTH RATES AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE,
IT WILL BE THE YOUNG, SMALL, PRODUCTIVE, INNOVATIVE FIRMS
WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE FAST GROWING, THEIR CONTRIBUTION
TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY, TO
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, WILL QUITE LIKELY BE CONSIDERABLE,
I SHOULD EXPECT MANY FIRMS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY TO BE AT
THE FOREFRONT OF THIS ACTIVITY,
INNOVATIVE, FORWARD-LOOKING INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS, CARRY WITHIN
THEMSELVES PRE-CONDITIONS OF ENHANCED DOMESTIC PROSPERITY, THE
MORE TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO SIEZE THE
OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED, AND THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY-BASED INDUSTRIES SHOULD BE FULLY EXPLOITED, THERE
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE PROBLEMS ADJUSTING TO THE CHANGES ASSOCIATED
WITH NEW AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY, AND WE MUST BE CAREFUL IN
OUR APPROACH, BUT THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF ALL AUSTRALIANS
DICTATES THAT WE FOLLOW THIS COURSE, THE FACT IS THAT
THE MORE RAPID DIFFUSION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THE BETTER
OFF AUSTRALIA IS LIKELY TO BE, FAILURE TO EXPLOIT THE
ADVANTAGES MORE THAN LIKELY WILL RESULT IN LOWER REAL
INCOMES. POSITIVE FORWARD LOOKING POLICIES, RATHER THAN
NEGATIVE, RE-ACTIVE ONES ARE THOSE THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE.
FOR ITS PART THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO SUCH AN APPROACH,
THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY, NEVERTHELESS, WILL ONLY GAIN THE
FULL BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IF THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH IT ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE,
I I/ o
SIN PART THIS MEANS ADDRESSING DELIBERATELY THE MAINNER VHICH
NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE INTRODUCED, A'ND ENSURING THAT TrOSE PFFECTED
ARE ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR A CHANGING WORK ENVIRONMENT.
A COMMOl THREAD RUNNING THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE
COUNTRIES MOST SUCCESSFUL IIN HANDLING THE INTRODUCTI ON OF
MODERN TECHNOLOGIES HAS BEEN THE WILLINGNESS OF THE SOCIAL
PARTNERS OF GOVERNMENT, UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS TO CONSULT
WITH EACH OTHER AT THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE LEVEL
AND TO ANTICIPATE AND RESOLVE PROBLEMS INVOLVED,
IN AUSTRALIA, PARTICIPATION BY OTHER GROUPS WITH MANAGEMENT
IN THE PROCESSES OF APPLYING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH MEANS SUCH
AS CONSULTATION, SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, TRAINING
AND RE-TRAINING IS NOT A WELL ESTABLISHED PRACTICE, THERE
ARE, I ACKNOWLEDGE, PROBLEMS IN MORE OPEN CONSULTATIVE
APPROACHES, THERE IS FOR EXAMPLE, THE ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
OF INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SUCH CONSULTATIONS, SOME WOULD
ARGUE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IF PROPOSALS FOR THE INTRODUCTION
OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE DIVULGED AT TOO EARLY A STAGE, THE
EFFECT MIGHT BE TO DISCLOSE BROADER , MARKETS TRATEGIES,
THEREBY COMPROMISING COMPANIES' COMPETITIVE POSITIONS,
BUT THERE IS OVERWHELMING BENEFIT IN A PROCESS OF CONSULTATION
THAT SMOOTHS THE TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IMPLICIT IN THE
CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH NEW PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES.
THE POINT I AM MAKING IS NOT ESPECIALLY NEW, RECOGNITION OF
THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO FACILITATE
INITIATION TO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE DATES BACK TO THE LATE
CONCEPTS SUCH AS WORKER PARTICIPATION AND JOINT DEC ISIO-MAKING
MIGHT SEEM LESS THREATENING IF ALL PARTIES WERE COMMITTED TO
THE OPTIMAL ADAPTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO THE NEEDS AND
SKILLS OF THE WORKFORCE, AND TO THE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF
THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES OF THE
ENTERPRISE CONCERNED,
AT THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE
INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES AND, THROUGH THEM AN ACCEPTABLY HIGH
STANDARD OF LIVING, IS THE NEED TO HAVE A SUITABLY FLEXIBLE
AUSTRALIAN WORKFORCE, NEW TECHNOLOGIES DEMAND AN
UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE OF ADAPTABILITY IN THE WORKFORCE,
TRAINING THE WORKFORCE TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF MORE
SOPHISITICATED CAPITAL PROCESSES IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE,
IE MUST GIVE URGENT ATTENTION TO THE CREATION OF A BASE OF
SKILLS ACROSS THE WHOLE WORKFORCE THROUGH EDUCATION AND
TRAINING OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AT THE SAME TIME AS ENSURING AN
ADEQUATE RE-TRAINING OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE TO HANDLE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES MORE CAPABLY. HEAVY INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
AND TRAINING IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE,
I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT A MORE SKILLED WORKFORCE IS
ESSENTIAL IF AUSTRALIA IS TO COMPETE IN THE NEW TECHNOLOGY
ERA, BROADLY BASED TRAINING WHICH EQUIPS OUR PEOPLE WITH
THE NECESSARY BASIC SKILLS IS IMPERATIVE, BASIC NUMERACY
AND LITERACY ARE NEEDED AS IS FLEXIBILITY IF THE
AUSTRALIAN WORKER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT READILY TO
NEW TECHNOLOGIES, 10 TAKE MAXItMUM ADVANTAGE OF ./ 11
19b0' S ANI IS REFLECTED IN BOTH CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION
COMMISSION AND fNATIONAL LABOR ADVISORY COUNCIL GUIDELINES,
MORE RECENTLY, IN 1981, THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED
GUIDELINES WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT PRIOR TO ANY DECISION BEING
TAKEN IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR TO INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY,
THE EMPLOYER SHOULD BE PREPARED TO NOTIFY EMPLOYEES OR
THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO PROVIDE A STATEIMENT FOR DISCUSSION
WHICH WOULD SET OUT REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND THE
NATURE OF THOSE CHANGES, AND THEIR CONSEQUENCE FOR THE
WORKFORCE. DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH GUIDELINES, THERE ARE STILL
FEW EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE CONSULTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, SURVEYS
OF INDUSTRY PRACTICE REVEAL THAT IN AUSTRALIA CONSULTATION
IS AN INFREQUENT OCCURRENCE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORMAL
JOINT CONSULTATIVE BODIES IS RARE, IHE SAME SURVEYS REVEAL
THAT THE ISSUES NORMALLY CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE TO JOINT
DECISION-MAKING ARE FEW AND AT A LOW LEVEL, WITH EMPHASIS
ON SOME ASPECTS OF WORKPLACE DESIGN AND CHOICE OF PARTICULAR
TYPES OF EQUIPMENT, CHANGED WORK PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY ARE RARELY CONSIDERED.
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CONSULTATION ON NEW
TECHNOLOGIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, DECISIONS AIMED AT INCREASING
THE ADAPTABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL BOTH WITHIN FIRMS AND BEYOND
COULD BE A USEFUL FINAL STEP, SUCH ADAPTABILITY MIGHT EE
SOUGHT NOT ONLY FROM THE WORKER CONFRONTED WITH THE IMMEDIATE
DEMANDS OF NEW PROCESSES, BUT ALSO FROM MANAGEMENT, I. ./ lu
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE INVEST NOT
JUST IN EQUIPMENT BUT ALSO IN HUMAN SKILLS,
V IE MUST TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING I N OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT IS PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING THAT LESS
THAN 40% OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 17 YEARS ARE ENROLLED
FULL-TIME IN SECONDARY SCHOOL WHEN MORE THAN 85Z OF THEIR
COUNTERPARTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN ARE, FOR
WHATEVER REASONS, STILL IN SCHOOL. THIS IS TO TIE ONE HAND
BEHIND OUR BACK BEFORE W~ E START. UNLESS UNDERPINNED BY
BASIC LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, OUR WORKFORCE
WILL SIMPLY LACK THE CAPACITY EITHER TO WORK EFFECTIVELY
WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES, OR TO ADAPT SUFFICIENTLY RAPIDLY TO
THEIR DEMANDS,
GOVERNMENT POLICY AIMS TO PROMOTE INCREASED PARTICIPATION
BY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE PACE AND
DISSEMINATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE REQUIRES MORE RATHER
THAN LESS POST-SCHOOL EDUCATION, ACCORDINGLY, WE HAVE
ALLOCATED $ 71.5 MILLION FOR THE PARTICIPATION AN! D EQUITY
PROGRAM IN 1984. THIS PROGRAM AIMS DIRECTLY TO PROMOTE
INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN POST-COMPULSORY
EDUCATION PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS WITH LOW RETENTION RATES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO PROVIDED A FURTHER $ 10 MILLION TO
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF ADVANCED EDUCATION FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 3,000 STUDENT MEMBERS IN 198' 4.
AS A NATION WE MUST BE PREPARED TO INVEST HEAVILY IN HUMAN
SKILLS. ONLY IF WE EQUIP OUR PEOPLE WITH SKILLS AND
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ATTITUDES ENABLING THEM TO COMPETE EFt: ECTIVELY TO FACE
THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE FUTURE, FLEXIBLY AND WITH CONF; DEN1CE,
CAN WE MAKE THE MOST OF FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES,
IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT
INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP FLEXIBILITY THROUGH BROADLY BASED
TRAINING, IN TIMES WHEN THE BASE OF STRUCTURAL AND
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IS MIORE THAN LIKELY TO FORCE MANY
PEOPLE TO CHANGE OCCUPATIONS DURING THEIR WORKING LIVES,
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST BE GEARED SO AS TO FIT STUDENTS
FOR AS WIDE A RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS AS POSSIBLE.
A MORE PLANNED APPROACH TO RELATING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
MORE CLOSELY TO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IS NEEDED, THE FUTURE
CANNOT BE LEFT TO CHANCE, ' iWE MUST ENSURE THAT THROUGH OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM AN ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING IS ACHIEVED OF
THE USES AND IMPACTS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, OF THE WAY THEY
AFFECT THE TYPE OF WORK AVAILABLE. AND WAY IT IS ORGANISED.
THE PLACE TO START DEVELOPING THIS UNDERSTANDING IS IN OUR
SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL CURRICULA WILL NEED TO EXPAND TO TAKE
UP THE CHALLENGE OF THIS NEW FACET OF LEARNING,
As AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, I AM SURE
YOU ALL APPRECIATE THE POINT I AM MAKING, I KNOW YOU WOULD
ALL AGREE THAT COMPUTER LITERACY IS A BASIC SKILL OF THE
1980' S AND BEYOND, AND YET SOME 90 PER CENT OF STUDENTS WHO
FINISHED THEIR SECONDARY SCHOOLING. IN 1982 HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING
OF MICROCOMPUTERS, SO',: THING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT
LONG AGO. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW GIVING PRIORITY TO REMEDYING
THIS BASIC DEFICIENCY,
AS A MAJOR INITIATIVE AIIED AT STIMULATING ACTION IN THIS CRUCI
AREA, WE WILL PROVIDE $ 18 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO
INTRODUCE A COM* PUTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IN 1984 $ 4,8 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS,
AND $ 1.2 MILLION TO NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, A NATIOiNAL ADVISCO
COMMITTEE ON COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS WILL REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT
BY 30 SEPTEMBER ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY OF IMPLE-MENTING THI
PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN EXAMININIG NEEDS IN AREAS SUCH AS SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT, SOFTWARE, HARDWARE AND EVALUATION AND SUPPORT
SERVICES, THE COMMITTEE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
CCfmIONWEALTH SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON THE STRUCTURE AND SCOPE OF
THIS PROGRAM. WHILE THE PROGRAM WILL CONCENTRATE ON SECONDARY
SCHOOLS, THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN ASKED TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILI
OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THEIR EXTENSION INTO PRIMARY
SCHOOLS.
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO BELIEVES THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE TH;
THE DISADVANTAGED RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE PROGFAM, AND THAT THIS
SHOULD PROMOTE SHARING OF RESOURCES WHERE THIS IS APPROPRIATE.
NOT ONLY THE COMMONWEALTH BUT ALSO THE RELEVANT STATE AUTHORITI
AND YOUR OWN INDUSTRY SHARE AN INTEREST IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS
PROGRAM. IT IS HISTORIC IN ITS ORIGINALITY AND CRITICAL TO OUF
FUTURE COMPETENCE AS A PEOPLE.
LOOKING TO THE LONGER TERM, WE HAVE ALSO DEEMED IT DESIRABLE TC
RE-ESTABLISH THE CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AS AN ADVISORY
BODY TO THE SCHOOLS ' COMMISSION. WIE SHOULD EXPECT THIS CENTRE,
RATHER THAN PROMOTING THE SO-CALLED " SOFT OPTIONS",
TO LOCK VERY CAREFULLY INSTEAD) TO ENSURING THE RELEVAIL
TO CONTEMPORARY AND FUTURE NEEDS OF EXISTING SCHOOL CURRICULA.
THERE ARE GAPS TO BE PLUGOED ESPECIALLY IN RESPECT OF
I SSUES POSED BY THE EMERGENCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THE
CENTRE WOULD BE FALLING DOWN INI ITS TrASK WERE IT NOTr TO3
GIVE PRIORITY TO ADDRESSING SUCH DEFICIENCIES,
AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT UNIVERSITY
PROGRAMS BE MORE FULLY GEARED TO MEETING THE DEMAND FOR
COURSES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
THERE HAS OFTEN BEEN TOO LITTLE FLEXIBILITY IN UNIVERSITY
TO SUCH NEEDS IN THE PAST, FOR EXAMPLE, BY
COMPARISON WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS, THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN
PRODUCING TOO FEW COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS IN RECENT YEARS,
TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SHIFT RESOURCES
PROMPTLY TO MEET CHANGES IN DEMAND FOR THE TRAINING THAT
THEY OFFER.
ULTIMATELY, I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
CAN COPE WITH THE DEMANDS LIKELY TO BE MADE UPON IT, BUT
THE TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLURRENT
WORKFORCE PRESENT MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS, THE LOWER RATE
OF ENTRY TO THE LABOUR FORCE BY YOUNG PEOPLE, THE REDUCED
IMMIGRATION RATE, AND THE INCREASING PARTICIPATION BY
WOMEN OF ALL AGE GROUPS IS LIKELY TO INCREASE THE AVERAGE
AGE IN THE LABOUR FORCE, POSSIBLY REDUCING ITS ABILITY TO
ADJUST TO CHANGING PATTERNS OF LABOUR DEMAND AND INCREASING
THE NEED FOR RE-TRAINING,
RE-TRAINING IS NOW BECOMING A LIFELONG REQUIREMENT. BUT
IT IS NOT EASY TO RE-TRAIN, RE-TRAINIrNG DOES OCCUR WITHIN
SOME INDUSTRIES, AND IS AN IMPORTANT AVENUE OF ADJUSTMENT TO
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE STABLE JOBS
OR HOPE OF REDEPLOYMENT WITHIN FIRMS OFFERING SUCH
OPPORTUNIIIES, THOSE NEEDING TO RE-TRAIN FOR VERY DIFFERENT
FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT ARE SOMETIMES LESS FORTUNATE, IN LARGE
PART, HOWEVER, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RE-TRAINING RESTS WITH
THE INDIVIDUAL. THERE ARE MANY FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE
CC'MMUNITY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RE-TRAINING, AND
ENTERPRISING INDIVIDUALS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH
OPPORTUNITIES. BUT I READILY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EXPERIENCE
OF AUSTRALIA AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES SUGGESTS THAT THE GOVERNME1NT
WILL BE REQUIRED TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RE-TRAINING EITHER
DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE PROVISION OF INCENTIVES TO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THE SUCCESS WITH WHICH AUSTRALIAN
INDUSTRY UTILISES NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HEIGHTEN COMPETITIVENESS
WILL DEPEND ON THE ABILITY OF THE WORKFORCE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY
WITH THE TECHNOLOGIES BEING INTRODUCED, WE MUST PLAN
FOR THE CREATION OF A BASE OF SKILLS ACROSS THE WHOLE WORK
FORCE THROUGH THE GENERAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND AT THE SAME
TIME ENSURE THE ADEQUATE RE-TRAINING OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE
TO HANDLE NEW TECHNOLOGIES MORE CAPABLY. WE MUST ENSURE
THAT INDUSTRY'S DEMANDS FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF LABOUR ARE
MATCHED BY SKILLS BEING DEVELOPED BY TRAINING INSTITUTIONS,
THE FUTURE MUST NOT BE JEOPARDISED BY THE SLUGGISH RESPONSE
OF THE LABOUR MARKET TO CHANGE. THERE MUST BE A CAREFUL
MATCHING UP OF TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT
,/ 16
I q
BASIC AND TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED AND THE
REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY MET.
I'ATCHING UP THE COMMUNITY'S HUMAN RESOURCE BASE WITH THE
DEMANDS IMPOSED BY THE PACE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
DEMANDS A WELL-INFORMED APPRECIATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS
OF OUR CHANGING INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS, IT ALSO PRESUMES
THE EXISTENCE OF A COMMUNITY CONSENSUS AROUND HOW WE MIGHT
BEST MOVE TO MEET THE RAPIDLY CHANGING DEMANDS OF A
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT,
THE SUCCESS WITH WHICH AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY UTILISES TECHNOLOGY
TO HEIGHTEN COMPETITIVENSS WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON THE
WILLINGNESS AND ADAPTABILITY OF THE WORKFORCE TO ADAPT TO,
AND WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH, THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEING
INTRODUCED.
WHAT IS NEEDED IS A COHERENT, COMPREHENSIVE AND GENERALLY
ACCEPTED APPROACH, THIS WILL ONLY FLOW FROM EXTENSIVE
AND WELL-INFORMED PUBLIC DEBATE, THE SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT
OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE REQUIRES THAT ITS BENEFITS BE FULLY
REALISED AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS MINIMISED, THE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE IMMENSE, BUT IF THE TRANSITION IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ACTION
IS REQUIRED NOT ONLY FROM GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO FROM THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND
FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. GROUPS SUCH AS YOUR OWN,
WHO ARE WELL EQUIPPED WITH AN APPRECIATION OF THE POTENTIAL
ASSOCIATED WITH CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE,
HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY, / 17
YOU ARE WELL PLACED TO:
ENSURE INFORMATION ON THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY
IS AVAILABLE;
ASSESS, IN CO-OPERATION WITH OPINION LEADERS
IN THE COMMUNITY, THE LIKELY IMPACT OF NEW
TECHNOLOGIES; STIMULATE COMMUNITY CONSIDERATION OF THESE
ISSUES SO THAT ALL GROUPS ARE WELL-PLACED TO
MAKE THE BEST CHOICE AND DECISIONS FOR AUSTRALIA
AS A WHOLE ON THE USE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
I ASK YOU TODAY TO USE YOUR RESOURCES TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD
BOTH IN YOUR OWN INDUSTRY, AND TO HELP PROVIDE THE BASIS
FOR SUSTAINED, LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR AUSTRALIA
AND A CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN THE WELL-BEING OF ALL
AUSTRALIANS, WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACK ON TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. THE CHALLENGE
BEFORE US IS TO UNDERSTAND IT; DEBATE IT AND MOULD IT TO
OUR OWN PURPOSES. A MORE PROSPEROUS, THRIVING AUSTRALIA
WILL BE THE MEASURE OF OUR SUCCESS.