Unfortunately, their multi- pronged attack on the industry will have the effect of destroying our domestic base just when we are accumulating a substantial trade deficit on IT and telecommunications equipment. The future prosperity of Australia depends on our participation in the Information Age and its associated industries. Government must play its part by ensuring that public sector agencies develop electronic commerce, that our telecommunications infrastructure is leading edge and that our communications links are fast and wide, and through imaginative purchasing policies which sustain the domestic industry and foster export development. We can also accept the Presidents invitation to join in the effort to free-up global trade in telecommunications and IT products as part of the APEC agenda. The virtuous cycle of research, innovation, investment, production and job growth followed by reinvestment of profits in further research to start the cycle again is vital to our future as a nation and all our policies must be directed to supporting that cycle.
Government intervention is a part of that process.