I realise that the report has to be considered by the National Information Services Council, announced by the prime minister earlier this month. But I mention here the recommendation that broadband links be provided to schools, libraries, medical and community centres by the year 2001. In the interim it suggests schools and libraries be connected to available narrowband digital links for access to information services such as the internet. Behind this strategy is a commitment to education, to equity of access by all Australians to the communications networks. It must also be one that can approach the superhighway intelligently and creatively in terms both of devising new software and developing the product that it will carry.
Libraries are an essential community access point for the delivery of information.
Already larger libraries are making electronic information a basic tool of the trade. Providing enhanced communications links to all libraries will vastly increase access to the common store of knowledge and demonstrate the value of participating in the communications age. Now, all of this is directly relevant to this occasion. It will give you access to world-wide electronic mailing services. It will make you part of those international communities of special interest that are burgeoning among the millions of people who have access to the internet.