Displaying items by tag: Julia Gillard

Coalition calls for a full Productivity Commission cost-benefit analysis of the $43 billion National Broadband Network was simply a delaying tactic from an Opposition "determined to wreck" the project, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Australia risked losing jobs to offshore markets if it failed to invest in the National Broadband Network as a critical piece of economic infrastructure, Julia Gillard has told Parliament.

Today Prime Minister Julia Gillard and IBM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Glen Boreham announced a new global research and development lab to be based at the University of Melbourne, creating 150 jobs and tackling Australian national concerns. The NBN is cited as a major drawcard.

The Government will investigate the use of a variety of "pre-commitment" technologies, including the possible use of a biometric fingerprint, to help track and curb the losses of problem gamblers, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.

The technology sector's profile got a big promotion within the Gillard Government when ACT Senator Kate Lundy was elevated into a Parliamentary Secretary role. It's in her nature these days, it seems, she takes the industry with her wherever she goes.

The Governor General Quentin Bryce;s administrative arrangements order issued with the swearing in of Ministers confirms the expanded role of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in the coordination of tech sector issues.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says the Snowy Mountains Scheme was given "rigorous analysis and public debate" over several years before construction began, and could not be compared to the National Broadband Network project as Julia Gillard claims.

With the announcement this week of the Gillard Cabinet and Tony Abbott's shadow ministry, we now know who the players are in what will be a hard-fought battle over the National Broadband Network implementation. But we have still to learn how the game will be played.

In a major boost for the sector, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard has signalled a hands-on role for herself in fostering "digital productivity," and appointed Stephen Conroy and Kate Lundy to assist her in the role.

In all the speculation about the likely make-up of the Gillard Cabinet, there is one sure thing: Stephen Conroy will retain the Communications portfolio. And that's a good thing for the sector, which will no doubt welcome the continuity.

The Australian technology sector will get its fibre-to-the-home National Broadband Network after the two remaining undecided rural independent MPs threw their support behind Julia Gillard and the ALP to form the next Federal Government.

The three rural independent MPs who hold the key to formating the next government are likely to make a decision today on whether to back Tony Abbott's Coalition or Labor's Julia Gillard, with broadband looming as a primary deal maker or breaker.

Rural independent MP Bob Katter has made public his 'wish-list' of issues he wants addressed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard or Opposition leader Tony Abbott before he is prepared to offer his support to either in forming a minority government - and it doesn't include broadband.

New South Wales independent MP Tony Windsor says he would be surprised if Opposition leader Tony Abbott doesn't submit his election promises to Treasury for costing, calling it a poor start to discussions he may have with the Coalition over forming a government.

If the Gillard Government wins this marathon election, it will have been broadband that gets it over the line. That is, unless Opposition leader Tony Abbott's refusal to submit his election promises to Treasury for costing hasn't already handed Labor the win.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has offered the three independent rural MPs who hold the key to forming the next federal government a detailed briefing from NBN Company chief executive Mike Quigley in response to their "keen interest" in broadband.

The so-called "Independents' Day" at the National Press Club provided few clues on who will form the next federal government and even fewer about what the nation's future broadband infrastructure might look like.

Tony Abbott has consigned the party of regional Australia - The Nationals - to the sidelines for the Coalition's negotiations with three rural independent MPs on forming Government, effectively cutting them out of any discussion on broadband in the bush.

The three rural independent MPs who hold the key to forming of the next Government of Australia - all of them ex-Nationals - will meet in Canberra late today to discuss areas of cooperation before negotiations start with the Prime Minister and Tony Abbott later this week.

With all eyes now shifting to independent MPs after an historic election that appears to have delivered a hung Parliament, the National Broadband Network and regional services is emerging as the key issue that will decide which party forms Government.