With the election only three months away NZCS Newsline invited the five main political parties to put forward a summary of their policies and vision for the future of ICT should they be elected in November.
In the second instalment of this series, Labour's Clare Curran unveils Labour's ICT policy and vision for the future for the first time (noting that they intend to release detailed policy positions in due course).
A technology-led future under Labour
It's time to take a step back and look at technology under a new light. Potential.
Labour is in the process of developing a comprehensive and future-focused converged ICT and broadcasting policy that will set a new direction for ICT and a new direction for New Zealand.
Objective and Principles
We believe that to succeed, New Zealand must become a digital nation; a world leader in the use of digital technology to transform our country both economically and socially.
But how will we achieve this and what does it mean?
If we're serious about this objective we need to consider the following bottom-line principles:
- New Zealand must consider our digital environment as the platform to grow a new generation of innovators. Innovators who use their skills inside NZ to build a strong and ground-breaking industry that provides skilled jobs and technological advances for the benefit of people everywhere.
- New Zealand's technology sector must be encouraged to become our biggest export sector, for it is on technology that we will build our future as a nation.
- The New Zealand Government must be the most efficient, cost effective and technically savvy it can bewhile delivering quality services and using its purchasing power to support and grow local technology companies and innovators.
- All New Zealanders must be able to access super-fast internet, be digitally literate and have clear pathways for educational and job opportunities in the digital economy.
- New Zealand must have a strong and vibrant creative content sector which includes a cross platform public broadcasting component, builds on our cultural identity and depicts our place in the world.
These are the principles that will ensure New Zealand has a bright technology-driven future and we believe we can make it happen.
Kiwis leading the world
As 2011 New Zealander of the Year Sir Paul Callaghan pointed out recently, due to our size kiwis only need to succeed in niche global markets to reap huge reward and significantly increase the economic performance of our country. We have the potential in the ICT sector, but we need a Government that sees that potential and is prepared to support it.
According to the Technology Investment Network report 2010 (TIN100), exports of the top 100 technology companies are $4.9 billion annually, now ranked second only to the dairy sector. The industry employs approximately 40,000 people, yet we import thousands of hi-tech positions a year and still can't keep up.
If the technology industry could double its revenues over the next few years, something we're on target to do, it will become New Zealand's largest export earner. Yet we currently have a Government that doesn't see this potential and isn't prepared to invest in the future.
Let's deal with the Skills Shortage
As NZCS recently highlighted, the skills shortage in New Zealand continues to get worse. It's the number one constraint to growth of the technology sector, yet the current National Government still shows no interest in even considering what to do about it.
There is no silver bullet of course, but you'll see from us a mix of policies designed to support an industry-led drive to deal with this systemic issue once and for all. We will support industry internships like the Summer of Techprogramme currently being rolled out nationwide, we will support in-school initiatives and we will help the next generation understand the great opportunities that lie in the technology sector.
Digital Literacy
If we're serious about a digital nation we have to tackle the digital divide. Information is power and all kiwis have the right to share the knowledge inherent in the digital world. And we must not let our newest network be a tool to entrench the divide between the haves and the have nots.
Around 20% of NZ households do not have a computer. These are the poorer families and these children need access to a computer or other device at home in order to be able to participate equitably in digital learning and using technology. We must deal with this and fast.
High speed Broadband for all
Labour believes that high speed broadband delivery to New Zealanders should occur as fast as possible, that the prices Kiwis pay for broadband fibre should be as competitive as possible, that the network must be open access to all players to encourage competition and affordability, and that NZers should get what they have been promised; high speed broadband on fibre and not low speed broadband on the copper network for the longest possible time.
Labour also believes there should be more competition in international connectivity. We don't just need another international fibre cable though. We need increased competition amongst ISPs to raise or get rid of data caps and we are looking at how we can support that.
Fair Procurement policies
New Zealand needs a strong procurement policy where we actively invest inside our own economy using the power of government spending for small, medium and large contracts.
We announced recently that a Labour Government will use major government contracts to back New Zealand firms instead of exporting jobs offshore as National are currently doing. New Zealand firms deserve the right to bid for large government contracts without locking them out on the basis of lowest price in favour of overseas companies. That's fair and right.
Convergence
Given the convergent nature of IT and Communications, Labour intends to put in place a shared policy, regulatory and legislative framework for the broadcasting, telecommunications and Internet realms.
Labour believes a single network regulator for Telecommunications and Broadcasting has merit, also addressing the impact of monopolies in both the Telecommunications and Broadcasting marketplaces.
Diversity of local content is and must be a priority. The current commercial market framework is not delivering that as it lacks a publicly funded component.
Copyright in the 21st century
Probably one of the biggest debates and issues this sector has dealt with in the last few years, other than the one around how to deliver the infrastructure, is Content. Who pays for it, will it deliver what it claims, and the big one, Copyright.
Labour got it wrong on copyright with the original Section 92a. We've learn from that. If we're returned to Government we'll repeal National's termination clause and we'll review the whole issue with a view to changing our environment and encouraging new business models to emerge which will distribute content easily and affordably.
In Summary
This is just a taste of what Labour will deliver for the technology sector.
We believe in our country becoming a nation of makers. We must invest in our own economy. We must invest in the skills and future of the ICT sector. We must invest in content. And we must invest in innovation to give our country the future it deserves.
And a message to you readers. Do your bit to get behind a converged industry strategy. See the potential for the future. Talk it up. Believe in what we can do and support and educate the politicians and the potential champions of such a strategy.
Labour believes that we can become the digital nation and believes we can lead the world. We see the potential. Let's move our country forward together.
Clare Curran is ICT Spokesperson for the Labour Party.
