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STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
MEMBERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION SERVICES COUNCIL
I am pleased to announce the membership of the National Information Services Council
( NISC). The establishment of the NISC implements a key recommendation contained in
the final report of the Broadband Services Expert Group.
The NISC has been established as a high-level discussion forum for broad policy issues
associated with the development of the so-called ' information superhighway'. Its role
will be to inform the policy debate in government, by encouraging input from members
of the community, industry and relevant experts in the field. As with my Science and
Engineering Council, the NISC will be an important source of non-government views on
key issues.
The new council which I will chair with the Minister for Communications and the Arts
as deputy chair, will provide the Government with access to a range of views on
marketplace developments, technical issues and community views on the opportunities
and challenges that the evolving services and technologies will * present. There is
considerable interest throughout Government on these issues and I expect that a number
of my Ministers will also be involved in the discussions.
The membership of the NISC comes from a broad range of areas community,
industry, academia and government to encourage a comprehensive examination and
wide-ranging discussion on the issues.
A list of members is attached. Each person has been selected because of his or her
expertise on issues associated with information services, and potential contribution to the
discussions.
The first meeting of the NISC will be held on 10 August and will focus on fiimdamental
policy issues such as community access; the evolution of communications services and
technologies; industry development; legal and community standards; and the international
context and implications of new communications services and technologies.
The establishment of the council is an important part of the Governent's plan to
formulate a comprehensive national approach on information and communications
services and technologies. It will play a valuable role by involving Government in
discussion with the community and industry on the implications of the ' information age',
emphasising its relevance to broader economic and social objectives.
The NISC is also a measure of this Government's commitment to the notion that we can
harness the enormous potential of the information age to achieve a fairer, healthier,
better educated and more productive society.
CANBERRA 23 June 1995
NISC MEMBERS
Name Position
Mr Roger Allen Chairman, Computer Power Group, Chairman,
Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute
Professor David Beanland Vice-Chancellor
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Mr John Burke Director Centre for International Research on
Communications and Information
Technologies ( CIRCIT)
Mrs Lyndsey Cattermole Managing Director
Aspect Computing Pty Ltd
Mr Col Cooper National President
Communications Electrical and Plumbing
Union ( CEPU)
Dr Dennis Cooper Chief CSIRO Division of Radiophysics
Ms Alison Crook, AO Chief Executive
Department of State Development
Mr Doug Elix Managing Director
IBM
Ms Betty Hounslow Director Australian Council of Social Services
( ACOSS)
Mr Brian Johns Managing Director
ABC
Ms Judith King Executive Director
Australian Coalition of Service Industries
Mr Michael Lynch General Manager
Australia Council
Mr Sean O'Halloran Director, Network Development
Seven Network Ltd
Mr Frank Peach Director-General of Education
Queensland Department of Education
Mr Alan Petts Interconnect Manager
Optus Communications Pty Ltd
Mr John Riedl Chief Executive Officer
Techniche Ltd
Ms Judy Slatyer Business Development Manager
Telstra Multimedia
Mr Ron Spithill Managing Director
Alcatel
Dr Ockert Van Zyl General Manager
Telecommunications and Manufacturing
Siemens Ltd
Mr Peter Waters Chair Communications Law Centre