Tuesday, 13 February

The opposition have back flipped on net neutrality and voted with the government against a motion, moved by the Australian Greens today, calling for an inquiry into public interest need for such protections.

Digital Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said current telecommunications ownership structures in Australia should be more than enough evidence to warrant having an inquiry.

This Government’s repeated attacks on Australia’s video games industry, climaxing last week in the tabling of a totally inadequate government response to the Future of The Australian Video Games Development Industry Inquiry, doesn’t fit into their so-called ‘innovation agenda’.

Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John today moved a motion, which was passed by the Senate, calling on the Government to reconsider their response to the inquiry and support the Australian video games industry.

The Government’s long-awaited response to the Games Inquiry has been released today, in which they note the unanimous recommendations of the inquiry into the future of the video games industry in Australia and make it clear that they do not care if the industry has a future, said Senator Jordon Steele-John, the Australian Greens Spokesperson for Digital Rights and IT.

“The Government just doesn’t get it. It took them over 600 days, and this is the best they have got!

The Government response to the NBN Joint Standing Committee Report shows how clueless and careless the Turnbull Government are about the urgent need of all Australians to access 21^st century internet for work, business, study, and everyday life, Senator Jordon Steele-John said today.

A government response to the Future of Australian Video Games Development Industry Inquiry, now 626 days late, has not yet been tabled despite a commitment from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield he would do so by the end of 2017.

Australian Greens IT spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has written to Minister Fifield today to express his disappointment at this Government’s continued dismissal the economic, social and cultural contribution of the Australian video games industry.

The rollout of the National Broadband Network is suffering from a serious lack of honesty, transparency and accountability at all levels – Government, NBN CO and retail providers – that must be addressed to restore public trust and meet Australia’s current and future digital needs, according to the Australian Greens.

The government has signalled today they will table their response to the future of Australian video games development industry inquiry by the end of 2017, 586 days late, after pressure from the Australian Greens.

Australian Greens IT spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said Australia’s video games industry had put up with uncertainty from the government for too long, after the inquiry unanimously recommended ongoing investment and support on April 29 last year.

The Senate has supported a motion noting the absence of any government response to the unanimous findings of the senate inquiry into the Future of Australia’s video game development industry, and ordered a copy of the response be tabled by 3pm tomorrow.

Australian Greens I.T. spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said it was time for the government to stop squandering the extraordinary opportunity and get involved In Australia’s video game industry.