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Profile
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 She is also leading Australia's switch to digital media as part of Government reforms to Australia's outdated media sector and is implementing measures to encourage new digital services across Australia.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.










