ALGA federal election advocacy focus: Support communities on their digital transformation journeys

Without additional funding and a broadening of the Commonwealth’s Smart Cities and Suburbs initiative, there is a risk the benefit of investments in smart technologies will not be fully realised.

Many communities will be left behind and the full benefits of the digital economy will not be realised across Australia. Linked-up, smart communities will foster decentralisation and ensure equitable access to the benefits of the knowledge economy.

Whole-of-Government business transformation strategies that result in an interconnected government and collaborative citizen-centred approaches will underpin tomorrow’s smart cities. Rural and regional Australia and its telecommunications connectivity capabilities will also underpin business transformation and interconnectedness.

In its federal election document, ALGA has called for the next Federal Government to support communities on their digital transformation journeys by:

  • building on the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program approach by providing a Smart Communities Program of $100 million per annum
  • establishing a Digital Local Government and Rural / Regional Telecommunications Program of $100 million over four years to increase the community benefits of improved technology, connectedness and innovation.

ALGA’s analysis indicates that the Smart Communities Program would have a cumulative Gross Domestic Product benefit of $242.3 million by the third year and create up to 700 new jobs. The Digital Local Government and Rural / Regional Telecommunications Program could have a cumulative Gross Domestic Product benefit of $98.1 million by the third year and create up to 300 new jobs.

Find out more about this and other federal election initiatives from ALGA at www.allpoliticsislocal.com.au