an open e-mail/letter to Senator Alston and Prime Minsiter

[Richard Bridge]

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
Aseem and E-Commerce Community,

The appointment of the Australian Information Economy Advisory Council is
described by Senator Alston as being on the basis of the individual's expertise.
However it does appear likely that these people have been chosen for two reasons -
they represent significant organisations and they are likely to readily agree a
good political position.  There is E-Commerce knowledge amongst the group, while
quite a few have access to considerable
E-Commerce talent and other skills in their organisations.

What is lamentable is the absence of some of the most knowledgable people in the
country in the fields of Online Information and Electronic Commerce.

If the Advisory Council's work is to be successful it will need more than just
E-Commerce - it will need vision, a strategic mindset and action.  Whatever is
done must have two sets of objectives - one is short term; and the other is longer
term where the legislative, the taxation, the venture capital, the
telecommunications and the education issues have to be addressed properly.

Since the Advisory Council will probably do their thing without much consultation
of the IT Community (Council Members excepted) I pin my hopes on the E-Commerce
Special Interest Group setup by the Australian Computer Society.  This has been
setup with a strong Steering Committee to give direction and focus to a group
which aims to raise E-Commerce issues and awareness, promote e-commerce education
and have some input into Govt policy formation.  Some of the members include Dr
Phil McCrea, David Jonas, Barry Wong (Security specialist), E-Commerce rep from
Aust Stock Exchange, Howard Coleman, Richard Bridge, Michael Lonie (Exec Officer,
E-Commerce Aust Retailers Assn), Stephen Trevillion (member of Institute of
chartered Accnts), a soon to be named Senior Academic known for his expertise and
work in this field (currently overseas).  This Group will operate for and with the
ACS, the other professions, academic instutions and Business (the most important
sector in implementing E-Commerce).  This whole process will include the
announcement of one or more E-Commerce post graduate tertiary courses.

Details will be shortly posted onto the ACS web site (and it is expected that it
will also appear on several other industry organisations' sites)

please see - http://www.acs.org.au

Aseem Prakash wrote:

> The point is simply this: there are many professionals that are actively
> involved in participating/debating Information Economy (including yourself)
> in Australia and why some of them are not on the advisory council?
>
> Aseem Prakash wrote:
> >
> > Dear Senator Alston,
> >
> > This is an open letter to you and via copy, to Prime Minister of
> Australia,
> > over the Internet.
> >
> > Why have you formed "Australia Information Economy Council" if you office
> > could find only the old cronnies? Can you give me three practical
> examples
> > why we should believe you in this area? CAN YOUR ADVISORY COUNCIL DEFINE
> > WHAT DOES INFORMATION ECONOMY MEAN FOR AUSTRALIA?
> >
> > Senator, this is not about politics but about Australia's future. What do
> > you think: is Australia a nation of sellers or buyers, or a nation of
> > losers?
> >
> > You have appointed an "Information Economy Advisory Council" and frankly,
> > you have chosen, what I call, " old boys network". The majority of your
> > selection has not contributed directly or indirectly, via vision or
> ideas,
> > to Australia's future in Information Economy. Perhaps, you can jog my
> > memory. Many of us have not heard of these organisations and individuals,
> > and they are going to give you advice! This is scary! They have not made
> a
> > single public statement and you have chosen to listen to them without
> > consulting Australian community?
> >
> > I propose that your office should revisit the decision and  include some
> of
> > the following people in your council to make it worthwhile:
> >
> > Philip McRea (visionary)
> > George Bray (entrepreneur)
> > Tim Pethick (an Australian running Britannica Online's worldwide business
> > from the US)
> > Andrew Macpherson (banking)
> > Adrian McCullagh (legal issues)
> > Richard Chirgwin (an active EC journalist)
> > Stewart Carter (a telco journalist)
> > Roger Clarke (a practitioner academic)
> > Bernard Robertson (EC Professional)
> > Jan Whitakker (education)
> > Lyal Collins (security)
> > Ramin Marzbani (marketing research)
> > Christopher Brien (university education and legal)
> >
> > And, once again, where are the state representatives and consumer
> > advocates?
> >
> > The country is tired of lip service Senator. Government can play politics
> > but in electronic commerce, politics can go a certain distance. Why are
> you
> > not consulting grass root Australian companies in this industry?
> >
> > Your selection is a reflection of how Austrade is helping electronic
> > commerce companies: ignore the companies that are demonstrating
> competence
> > & success, just run with lobbbyists and big business.
> >
> > I am angry and frustrated. What's your vision?
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Aseem Prakash
> > CEO
> > Interactive Knowledge On-Line
> > Sydney, Australia and Albany, New York
> > E-mail: aprakash@iko.com.au
> > Phone: (+61-2) 9929 9775
> > Mobile: 0414 665 463
> > e-Talk: http://www.etalk.net/
> > e-Sense: http://www.iko.com.au/eSense/eSenseIndex.htm
> > Web: A new paradigm for Electronic Commerce, http://www.iko.com.au/

regards,
       Richard

Richard P. Bridge MACS, PCP
E-Mail: rbridge@acslink.net.au
Mobile: 0412-263-907  Site Tel: 02-9960-9107

Director, ACS Marketing Board                Tel: 02-9299-3666
ACS web site    http://www.acs.org.au

"Do one thing today to make tomorrow better!"


---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.anu.edu.au/pipermail/link/attachments/67ac5441/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--