The Federal Budget has largely ignored the ICT sector, leaving the peak industry body to pin its hopes on the release of the Digital Economy statement later this month, according to the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

 

Speaking to iTWire, AIIA President Ian Birks said, “there’s not an awful lot in this budget for our industry.”


However he acknowledged that there could be some programmes in other sectors which would have a residual flow on effect for ICT companies given the foundation role that information systems play in all modern businesses.


He said the 2011-12 Budget delivered a “solid platform” particularly in terms of continued support for the National Broadband Network and e-health initiatives.


Mr Birks said that there would probably be more meat in the release of the Digital Economy Strategy which was expected from Senator Conroy later this month.


Mr Birks said he was disappointed that the focus on rural and regional Australia in terms of skilled migration programmes, which he thought would not meet the needs of the ICT sector which was concentrated in metropolitan areas.


The Government has announced it will allocate 16,000 skilled migration places (essentially workers on 457 visas) to the regions, and fast track the permanent residency applications for 457 visa holders who have spent more than two years in the regions.


“While rural and regional areas are important they are not typically where the skills shortages are in our industry,” said Mr Birks.

 

He said he would have preferred to see a programme which allowed more skilled migration into the cities to help industry tackle ICT skills shortages.