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Helen Coonan
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Profile

Senator for New South Wales
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Helen Connan serves as Australia's Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Helen was the first woman to be appointed to the Government's leadership team.

Helen has helped the Government achieve the largest investment in telecommunications in Australia's history; the $3.1 billion Connect Australia program. Helen has shown commitment and leadership in tackling the big companies to get great results for all Australians. We now enjoy first class telecommunications services including mobile phone, internet and other new technologies. She is also leading Australia's switch to digital media as part of Government reforms to Australia's outdated media sector and is implementing measures to encourage new digital services across Australia.

As well as leading major reforms Senator Coonan is working for families by introducing the Do Not Call Register for nuisance telemarketers and the Net Alert - Protecting Australian Families Online initiative to prevent inappropriate material on the internet reaching children.

Helen was first elected to Parliament in 1996 as a Liberal Senator for New South Wales. She lives in Sydney with her family and is a passionate supporter of the performing and visual arts.

Prior to entering Parliament Helen had a long career in law that spanned practice as a partner in a large commercial law firm, a commercial barrister in Australia and as an Attorney in New York.

Telecommunications

In 1997 the Howard Government decided to open up telecommunications to full competition. Back then, there were just three telecommunications carriers. By May 2007 there were 167.

As a result of full competition, the overall average price for telecommunication services has, since 1997, fallen by 30.6%. The benefits of cheaper telecommunications are substantial, with the flow on effect of lower prices (leaving more money in consumers’ pockets and on businesses’ bottom lines) estimated to have added more than $15 billion to the size of our economy.

Since 1996, the Howard Government has made available $4.1 billion for broadband and telecommunications, which has already extended mobile phone coverage to 98.8% of the population and high speed broadband coverage to over 90% of the population.

In June 2007, the Howard Government put forward Australia Connected – a nation building broadband solution that will revolutionise communications in Australia.

The centrepiece of Australia Connected is the immediate rollout of a new state of the art wireless, ADSL2+ and fibre broadband network that will extend high speed broadband to 99% of the population and provide speeds of 12 megabits per second by 2009. These high speeds will enable live video streaming, five minute movie downloads, five second CD downloads and multi-channel television.

Importantly, these fast speeds will be delivered across Australia at prices of between $35 and $60 per month, depending on the package chosen by the customer.

The Howard Government has established the $2 billion Communications Fund to future proof the bush by spending the interest earned (at least $400 million every three years) on upgrading mobile phone and broadband infrastructure in rural and regional areas.

The Howard Government has also introduced the Customer Service Guarantee which guarantees timely phone installations and fault repairs plus compensation payments to customers of up to $50 per day. The Universal Service Obligation has also been tightened to provide customers with interim services if Telstra is unable to install new services within set timeframes.

The Howard Government will work hard to deliver even better telecommunications, through competition, strong consumer protections, targeted assistance and a strong economy to enable ongoing investment by government and the private sector.

Advanced - Accessible and Affordable Telecommunications

 

Information Technology

The Howard Government has worked hard to support an information technology industry with a reputation for leading-edge innovation and high value-adding.

There are now over 85,000 more Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Australia than 10 years ago, while ICT and the innovative use of new technologies is estimated to have contributed to more than half of the productivity growth in Australia’s services industry and manufacturing sectors.

A strong ICT sector is, first and foremost, built upon the foundations of a strong economy. By removing Labor’s debt and lowering inflation (which has reduced pressure on interest rates) and by encouraging a flexible workforce and putting more incentive in the taxation system, the Howard Government has laid the foundations for enterprise and innovation.

Innovation has been further encouraged through Backing Australia’s Ability – the largest innovation package in Australia’s history (backed by $8.3 billion in investment).

National ICT Australia (NICTA) was established in 2002 to undertake leading edge research and education, facilitate commercialisation of research and establish links with the private sector. It has since established five ICT laboratories, with over 300 research and support staff. NICTA has filed 12 complete and 26 provisional patent applications and launched two spin-out companies. NICTA also has research

collaborations with Ericsson, IBM, Microsoft, Siemens, DSTO, CSIRO and the University of South Australia.

The Government’s Industry Statement announced on 1 May 2007 provides $1.4 billion over 10 years to assist Australian industry integrate in global markets, with initiatives like: the Global Opportunities Program (to help Australian firms win work in global supply chains); supporting the pursuit of export opportunities arising from the Aust-US Free Trade Agreement; Australian Industry Productivity Centres (to help firms capitalise on new market opportunities); extending eligibility of the 175% Premium R&D Tax Concession; and the new Commercial Ready Plus Program (to encourage R&D in small firms).

Since 1996, the Howard Government has made available $4.1 billion for broadband and telecommunications funding which has already extended mobile phone coverage to 98.8% of the population and high speed broadband to well over 90% of the population.

In June 2007, the Howard Government put forward Australia Connected – a nation building broadband solution that will revolutionise communications in Australia. The centrepiece is the immediate rollout of a new state of the art wireless, ADSL2+ and fibre network that will extend high speed broadband to 99% of the population and provide speeds of 12 megabits per second by 2009. These high speeds will enable five minute movie downloads, five second CD downloads and multi-channel television.

Improved Information Technology

Contact

Email
senator.coonan@aph.gov.au
Address
Level 7, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone
02 9223 4388
Fax
02 9223 4399
Website

Media Releases

Date

Media Releases

20 November 2007

Labor's $17 billion broadband black hole

19 November 2007

Labor too late on online child protection

16 November 2007

Young people to have a voice on online safety measures

15 November 2007

Labor’s ‘digital education revolution’ is already in tatters

13 November 2007

Tasmania broadband maps doctored by former labor staffer

13 November 2007

Labor’s ridiculous 6 month broadband tender timeframe

10 November 2007

New dedicated ABC children’s channel for families

9 November 2007

Chronically ill children to benefit from online network

9 November 2007

Coalition boosts education for Victorian students

9 November 2007

Good Morning Warrnambool – A new local morning radio programme for Warrnambool

8 November 2007

Boradband for Parkwood, Lynwood & Langford

7 November 2007

World class communications for Forrest

7 November 2007

$6 million to save the Busselton Jetty

7 November 2007

Labor Wrong on its Desperate Broadband Data Claims

6 November 2007

Australia’s broadband performance continues to improve

4 November 2007

Garrett Exposes Labor's Broadband Lie

1 November 2007

Labor’s copycat internet idea is 10 years too late

1 November 2007

Partnership will make National Indigenous Television available to 6 million Australians via Pay TV

1 November 2007

Labor denies decent mobile coverage to the bush

1 November 2007

Bringing fast broadband to Hinkler

1 November 2007

Good Morning Hervey Bay – A local morning programme, a new studio and a new reporter for Hervey Bay

31 October 2007

New Broadband services for Fisher and Fairfax

31 October 2007

Bringing fast broadband to Mooloolaba

31 October 2007

More critics of Labor’s shame broadband proposal

30 October 2007

Launch of the SmartLink Transport Website

29 October 2007

Securing Australia’s Internet Future

29 October 2007

$4.8 million for advanced silicon chip research

26 October 2007

First Meeting of NetAlert Working Group

25 October 2007

Clever Networks support for Londdon Mallee trauma care

25 October 2007

Coonan visits Bendigo to announce upgrade of five new exchanges to ADSL broadband

25 October 2007

Rudd’s opportunity to identify Tasmanian households that will miss out under Labor’s broadband plan

24 October 2007

Optus declares Labor’s broadband plan ‘unimaginable’ and impossible to achieve

23 October 2007

UN rates WiMAX broadband among world’s best

23 October 2007

Joint Media Release with The Hon Mark Vaile MP

21 October 2007

Labor’s broadband wipes out education rebate

18 October 2007

More than 100000 Australian families using NetAlert filters after the first six weeks

17 October 2007

Another provider under the Australian Broadband Guarantee to increase the reach of broadband

16 October 2007

Bringing fast broadband to Boothby

3 October 2007

ABG providers

3 October 2007

Clever Networks Flying Doctors

 

                                                                                                             Ministerial Website