Deciding our digital future

Digital Transformation

Australians are being encouraged to have their say on the digital future of the nation under a Digital Economy Strategy to be released by the Australian Government early next year.

This week Hon Arthur Sinodinos, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, has released a consultation paper to help with the development of this strategy.

The strategy will be developed in consultation with industry, thought-leaders, small and medium sized businesses, government, community as well as the broader private sector and will outline how to best seize the benefits of digital transformation and secure Australian jobs into the future.

Hon Sinodinos says that Australia already has areas of competitive strength, such as energy resources, and medical and mining related technologies. He believes that Australia can also become a world leader in digital innovation, giving a boost of $140 billion to $250 billion to the economy over the next eight years.

The Digital Economy Strategy will explore topics including digital infrastructure, digital business capability, and building digital skills and inclusion. It will consider:

  • How to drive productivity within existing industries, build on competitive strengths and develop new ones, take advantage of economy-wide changes and open up new growth sources.
  • How to develop world-leading digital businesses for globally engaged, innovative, high-growth businesses of all sizes.
  • How to empower all Australians with the skills and confidence to succeed in a digital economy.

In response to the announcement Tim Reed, CEO of MYOB said, “We welcome the Government’s decision to encourage Australians to have their say on the country’s digital future and MYOB will taking the opportunity to make a submission on behalf of our 1.2 million small business customers across the country.

“It’s critical that we have a national conversation on our digital future so that we can make decisions which support Australian businesses and ensure they remain competitive in an increasingly global market. In our response to The Digital Economy: Opening up the Conversation we will encourage the Government to put small businesses front and centre of this critical issue. Digitally advanced businesses are more innovative, productive and competitive and are more likely to be successful and create more jobs to power the Australian economy,” Reed added.

“In particular, SMEs need streamlined processes, cloud capabilities, collaborative technology and security for their most important assets – their customers. We hope as a result of this initiative to open up the digital conversation, small business will feel more confident, supported and empowered to shape Australia’s digital transformation and future,” Reed concluded.

The Minister invited Australians to join the conversation and share their ideas by 30 November 2017 at: www.industry.gov.au/digitaleconomy