Senator TIERNEY(3.22 p.m.) —We have had two speakers from the opposition on this matter so far, but they missed some of the very fundamental points. The fundamental underlying point, of course, is that in Australia this industry is booming, which actually puts paid to the comments that you were making, Senator O'Brien. This government is picking up the cusp of this matter and pushing it to the future by creating this new ministry of the information economy. That is more than your government ever did.

I cannot remember you ever proposing such a ministry. As a matter of fact, what I remember under your government is a minister by the name of Michael Lee, the member for Dobell, whom we used to call the Rip Van Winkle of communications policy because he sat on his hands and did nothing for three years. What he did was commission a number of reports. There was a report brought down in 1993. There was another report brought down in 1995, and then we went into the election. From 1993-96 the government fiddled around with reports but actually did nothing. Opportunities went begging in this country when we were so well positioned for this new boom in the information age.

If we have a look at what we had at that point, we had an opportunity that was wasted by this Labor government for three years because we had a communications regulation system that was national, unlike some other countries, like the United States, where there are 51 regulators—the 50 states and the federal government. We had a number of major companies. We had a structure where the backbone went around 80 per cent of the Australian population in a very short distance between Brisbane and Adelaide. We were very well positioned for the information economy. But your government blew it. Your government blew the chances.

What this government is doing by setting up this information industry ministry is moving in this new direction and focusing policy on developing Australia as a major player in the information age. Senator O'Brien and Senator Lundy are very misleading in saying—if I quote you, Senator O'Brien—that things are going overseas. If that is the case, why is this industry actually booming? Why do the figures show that there is a job explosion in this industry that even exceeds the explosion in the communications industry generally? If we come to IT specifically and have a look at the growth—

Senator Sherry —It was a legacy of the Labor government.

Senator TIERNEY —It was a long time ago, Senator Sherry. You cannot claim that for too much longer.

Senator Sherry —Why do you blame us for the unemployment rate, then?

Senator TIERNEY —Let's blame you for something. Let me show you this graph.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order, Senator Sherry! Senator Tierney, address the chair, please.

Senator TIERNEY —Through you, Madam Chair.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —To me.

Senator TIERNEY —If I can show Senator Sherry this graph here, it shows IT dropping and then absolutely booming, up 53 per cent.

Senator Sherry —On a point of order, Madam Deputy President, I do not know whether other senators can read the graph that Senator Tierney is holding up.

Senator Ian Campbell —Very clearly, thank you.

Senator Sherry —You have glasses on, so I can understand why, perhaps, but you have got your back to him. It must be a bit difficult. If the senator would like to incorporate, or seek permission to incorporate, the graph, we would then all be able to read it. But it is not possible to read documents across the table like that.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —There is no point of order. Are you seeking leave, Senator Tierney?

Senator TIERNEY —I am seeking leave to incorporate this document.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows:

Senator TIERNEY —The document is from the Australian of 26 August, page 41. It goes into—and you can read this, now it is being incorporated—the way in which the job market in IT is booming.

Senator Sherry —I raise a point of order, Madam Deputy President.

Senator TIERNEY —I know this is very embarrassing. You are just highlighting that, Senator Sherry.

Senator Sherry —The reason for accepting incorporation is so that we do not have to hear any more of the tedious argument of Senator Tierney. We can read it for ourselves in the Hansard .

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —There is no point of order.

Senator TIERNEY —Thank you. I know these figures are going to be very embarrassing to you, but let me underline them for you, Senator Sherry. Fifty-three per cent of the IT industry firms are actually putting on staff, and that is up 12 per cent. Computer professionals job growth is going up at 6.2 per cent a year currently, as opposed to 2.8 per cent in the rest of the skilled work force.

If your basic thesis was right, you would not find this. You claim it is all going overseas; it is not going overseas. The vast majority of this work is going to Australia. It is the imaginative and visionary policies of this government, that are allowing things to go to outsourcing, that have helped to create and generate this industry, which will be one of the lead growth indicators for the Australian economy in the years to come. This is all under the rubric of this new information ministry.