We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the pandemic has highlighted just how vital digital technology is in our lives.
The Australia Computer Society (ACS), the peak body for Australia’s IT professionals, has proposed a billion-dollar plan to boost our IT future and keep Australia in line with the evolving global digital economy by investing in digital education, regional skills, and industry diversity.
The proposal would affect “everything from working from home, check-in applications, and alleviating supply chain issues hinges on a skilled IT workforce” with the following measures:
- $100 million to encourage tech education: to boost resources to teachers delivering tech-related content.
- $100 million to crack down on spam and scams: enforcement should be increased, tighter controls placed on scammers, and telecommunications organisations should be compelled to take stronger action by blocking calls from scammers.
- $10,000 employee tax credit for businesses that provide tech training.
- $500 million to provide digital hubs in regional areas that will improve digital literacy.
- $500 million to improve diversity and inclusion by increasing female participation in a sector where their representation is at 29 per cent.
- Increased cybersecurity for government agencies.
- Creation of a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, a cabinet-level Digital Economy portfolio, and a commission to evaluate the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.
The ACS proposal would provide a much-needed boost to the digital lives of all Australians, by laying out “a roadmap for the next government to build on the economy’s strength.”
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