Contents
CEO Update
New Member Profile
New IIA Board
Media Reforms
Women in the ICT Sector
PJCIS inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation
Government Strategy for Australia’s National Security Legislation
ALRC Copyright review
ACCC Consultation on NBN Co SAU
Member's Corner
IIA Submissions
Events
IIA Working with Government
IIA in the Media
Please note the IIA new phone number. Phone: 02 6154 5050
CEO Update
Welcome to the March 2013 edition of the IIA’s Engage Newsletter.
We are now well underway into 2013, with much of the focus in many corners now centred on the 14 September 2013 Federal Election announced by Prime Minister Gillard on 30 January 2013.
As highlighted in our January Newsletter we are now seeing an impact on the Government’s planned reform and legislative program as a result of the impending election and there is no denying the fact that the election will be a distraction for the Government and its current policy and reform agenda.
One such reform that we have been following closely is the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation, which includes the contentious data retention issues as well as critical infrastructure proposals. With Parliament sitting again from 12-21 March, it is our understanding that the Committee is likely to present its report for tabling in the Parliament during this March sitting. A further update is provided in this Newsletter.
During February I had the opportunity to meet with Mr Simon Cohen (Telecommunications Ombudsman) and David Brockman (Executive Director, Industry, Community & Government) to discuss how the IIA and the TIO can work together collaboratively for the mutual benefit of IIA members and the TIO. Should you have any issues of relevance to your business and the TIO, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have a need for the IIA to represent any issues or arrange a meeting on your behalf.
Currently the IIA Board and I are undertaking a review of our strategy in order to clearly set our agenda for 2013. I would welcome and encourage all IIA members to contact me directly to discuss that agenda and provide input to ensure that we focus our efforts at the IIA on key areas that are important and relevant to your business.
I’m pleased to welcome aboard PureSight Technologies Ltd (Puresight) and Easyweb Digital as members of the IIA. Puresight
was established in 2005 with the mission of providing a safe online environment for the world’s children. Their aim is to help parents protect their children in this world of technology by becoming involved in their online lives, which includes the provision of education and information as well as the required software tools. Easyweb Digital is Australia’s leading designer and builder of interactive digital environments. Combining fixed and wireless networks and screen technologies, they create simple yet sophisticated value-add solutions that inform, entertain and engage.
I was very pleased to see many of you at the 16th Annual IIA Gala Dinner, held at Doltone House, Sydney in February. I’d like to personally thank everyone who attended and once again acknowledge the support of our fantastic sponsors, iiNet, Akamai, Optus, Nominum, Enex testlab, Equinix, Websense and our keynote sponsor the Internet Fraud Watchdog. I’d also like to acknowledge Australian of the Year 2013, Ita Buttrose AO, OBE and Dr Michael Afergan (Akamai) for their engaging speeches on the night, our wonderful MC, Gary Eck, and of course who could forget the Three Waiters. Finally, I’d like to thank my dedicated staff, Lynn Pendrigh, Chantal Steel and Ursula Radford for all their hard work in making the event such a great
success.
Peter Lee
CEO
peterlee@iia.net.au
New Member Profile
PureSight
PureSight Technologies Ltd was established in 2005 with the mission of providing a safe online environment for the world’s children. Their aim is to help parents protect their children in this world of technology by becoming involved in their online lives. We believe this involves education and information as well as software tools.
The company’s flagship product, PureSight Owl enables parents to completely protect their children from cyberbullies, Internet predators and unsolicited adult-oriented web sites, as well as inappropriate activities on Social Networks such as Facebook.
Easyweb Digital Pty Ltd
Easyweb Digital is Australia’s leading designer and builder of interactive digital environments. Combining fixed and wireless networks and screen technologies, we create simple yet sophisticated value-add solutions that inform, entertain and engage.
Easyweb Digital focus on providing sophisticated value-add solutions that make our clients’ lives easier. This means we work hard to understand client needs, design and build quality solutions to meet those needs and then provide full technical support for our products in the field.
New IIA Board Members
The Internet Industry Association (IIA) welcomes four new members to its Board. The election was finalised at the IIA Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 21 February 2013.
Glen Powys, Managing Director, Tech2home Group George Dionisopoulos, Operational Security & Regulatory Manager, AAPT Samuel Py, CEO, SSI Pacific and Kevin Karp, MD, Studentnet /PPS Internet each take seats as IIA Directors.
These appointments add a wealth of depth and experience to the Board and the Association.
The new IIA Board members join incumbent members including: newly appointed Chairman, Patrick Fair, Partner, Baker & McKenzie; Deputy Chairman, Bruce Linn, Director of SABRENet; Treasurer Charles Heunemann, MD APAC, Natterbox; Secretary, Hwei Oh, Marketing Manager, ANZ, Sophos; Director, Matt Tett, MD, Enex Testlab; Director, John Lindsay, CTO iiNet; Director, Peter Price, CEO and Director, Crime Stoppers and Director, Austin Bryan, Global Head of Digital Communities & Eco-systems, SingTel Optus.
On behalf of the CEO and the Board, we would like to thank Bruce Linn for his significant contribution as IIA Chairman over the past three years. We are delighted to let members know that Bruce has been re elected as Deputy Chairman.
Media Reforms
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, has announced a package of reforms in response to the Convergence Review and Finkelstein Inquiry and imposed a less than two week deadline for the Parliament to support the Press Council and Public Interest Test reforms.
While the IIA supports an approach that promotes media diversity, we question the effectiveness of creating yet another regulator in the form of the Public Interest Media Advocate (PIMA).
“A more effective way of creating competition and diversity, particularly on-line through digital media, would be to provide better incentives for investment that promotes and encourages a greater diversity of voices across a variety of new platforms and applications,” said Peter Lee, Chief Executive of the Internet Industry Association (IIA).
Please see our full press release at iia.net.au
Women in the ICT sector
Congratulations to Ana Tabacman from Optus, the IIA Gala Dinner lucky door winner of the ticket to the The Australian Executive Women’s Leadership Symposium 2013.
In addition to IIA Members Hwei Oh, Sophos and Viollette Chan, Gizmo, Kelli Wainberg from iiNet has also been awarded a scholarship valued at $11,000, awarded to women working in the Information Technology sector within IIA Member organisations to assist their participation in the Advanced Leadership Program (ALP).
Developed by a consortium of educational bodies and industry experts, the ALP is part of a national initiative to increase Australia’s pool of executive level female leaders.
Further information on the Australian Executive Women’s Leadership Symposium and future scholarship opportunities is available from Shaun Zapadlo, Workplace Training Advisory Australia szapadlo@wtaa.edu.au
PJCIS inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation has now been under review since the Government asked the Committee to consider a package of national security ideas in July 2012 comprising proposals for telecommunications interception ad security reform and Australian intelligence community legislation reform.
It is our understanding that the Committee is expected to report back to the Parliament, following consideration of written submissions and evidence given at public hearings, during the current March sitting of Parliament.
Speaking in Sydney in January this year, Sir Tim Berners-Lee described the proposed laws as, “fraught with massive danger and probably a really, really bad idea", a view supported by the IIA.
Given we have now entered into election mode and only some six sitting weeks of Parliament remain before we enter caretaker mode for an 14 September election, it remains unlikely that any significant legislative change resulting from these proposals will be seen before then.
Further information on the Inquiry, can be found here.
Government Strategy for Australia’s National Security Legislation
On 23 January 2013 Prime Minister Gillard announced A Strategy for Australia's National Security and in delivering a speech on Australia's National Security Beyond the 9/11 Decade
the PM identified three specific areas where the Government will be dedicating increased effort over the next five years. The second of these areas identified for increased effort is cyber security.
The PM indicated that the government cannot effectively develop a secure and safe digital environment alone and must continue to work closely with industry and international partners to develop a set of global ‘norms’ for online behaviour.
The PM said, “The Internet must remain open but also be secure”, a view supported by the IIA. However, security of the Internet and that of critical infrastructure (which forms part of the PJCIS inquiry) is best addressed and likely to be more effective through a collaborative approach with industry and key stakeholders rather than through unnecessary legislative reform that provides the Government with unfettered powers that are not subject to an appropriate level of checks and balances.
The PM also announced on 24 January the development, by the end of this year, of a new Australian Cyber Security Centre
in order to deal with all cyber issues — be they related to government or industry, crime or security. The Centre is intended to also create a hub for greater collaboration with the private sector, State and Territory governments and international partners to combat the full breadth of cyber threats. We will look to ensure that the IIA is engaged on behalf of our members in the development of these initiatives. Cyber security (eSecurity) is one initiative that the IIA intends to take a more active role in throughout 2013 and beyond.
ALRC Copyright review
At final count, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) received 283 public submissions in response to the Issues Paper (released 20 August 2012), which are published on the ALRC website.
The Commission will now begin a fresh round of consultations—including roundtables with a range of stakeholders on developments in law and technology and international comparisons— while reference groups of content owners, collecting societies, business interest groups, creators, the GLAM sector and others are being planned in order to provide the widest possible input. Together with the submissions already received, these consultations will feed into the Discussion Paper, planned for the end of May/early June 2013. The Discussion Paper will canvass possibilities for reforms to the Copyright Act, if any, and allow more focused discussions with stakeholders. At that time, the Commission will call for a second round of
submissions.
The final report is due to be delivered to the Attorney-General by 30 November 2013.
Further information can be found here.
ACCC Consultation on NBN Co SAU
The ACCC review on the NBN Co SAU continues.
On 29 January 2013, the ACCC sought further information from NBN Co to assist the ACCC in its assessment of the SAU. The information relates to NBN Co's forecasts of expenditure, revenues, prices and demand for each year of the SAU term.
On 15 February 2013, NBN Co responded to the ACCC's request for additional information. NBN Co’s letter of response to the ACCC can be found here and associated Attachment B here.
The ACCC must make a decision to accept or reject an SAU within six months of the receipt of the undertaking (i.e. in the case of the 18 December 2012 SAU by the end of May 2013), subject to its ability to extend this period and periods which are discounted from the assessment timeframe (such as when the ACCC is consulting on the SAU, or NBN Co is responding to any Notice to Vary issued to it).
If the ACCC does not make a decision within the statutory time period, it is deemed to have accepted the SAU.
Further information on the NBN Co SAU, including the ACCC’s consultation process can be found here.
Members Corner
As mentioned in IIA CEO Peter Lee’s address to an audience of over 300 people at the IIA Gala Dinner in February, PureSight, one of IIA’s newest members, has been awarded, for the second year running, the number one position for its parental control tool for the online protection of children by the European Commission’s SIP Benchmark II study.
Puresight CEO, Ouri Azulay, said; “We are proud to be recognized by the European Commission as the #1 product on the market second year in a row. The fact that PureSight maintained first position, for all age groups reflects PureSight’s ongoing commitment to protecting children online. At PureSight, we combine that dedication with technological advantages, usability expertise and psychological perspectives to develop the best online child safety product."
This is a great honour and achievement for Ouri and the team at Puresight, so congratulations to you all.
Further information about Puresight can be found here.
Note to all members: If you have significant news of interest to the IIA membership please submit to admin@iia.net.au or give us a call.
IIA Submissions 2012
submissions available on the IIA website
ALRC inquiry into Copyright law reform
PJCIS inquiry into potential reforms of National Security Legislation
The Convergence Review Framing Paper Interim Report
ALRC National Classification Scheme Review
Gambling Consultation Taskforce
Revising the scope of the 'copyright safe harbour scheme'
Events
IIA Gala Dinner 2013
Thank you to our event sponsors iiNet, Akamai,
Optus, Nominum, Equinix, Enex TestLab,
Websense and Internet Fraud Watchdog
Peter Lee, IIA, CEO, the IIA team and IIA Chairman and board members would like to thank those who attended our 2013 Annual Gala Dinner Internet..anywhere, anytime, anyhow. We really appreciated your support for this key event on the Internet industry calendar and hope you found the event rewarding and enjoyable.
If you were one of the 45 lucky winners of the iiNet Piix Digital Photo Frame prize, please email, so we can assist you to locate the phone number necessary to activate connection for your device. admin@iia.net.au
Images of the event are available to view by following this link.
We look forward to doing it all again in February 2014!
6th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights - 17 to 20 March 2013 Sydney
Peter Lee IIA CEO will be addressing this Congress on Tuesday 19 March 2013 13:30 to 15:00
http://www.wcflcr2013.com/session/412.asp
The Congress will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia, from 17-20 March 2013.
The Theme of the Congress is 'Building Bridges - From Principle to Reality" and the program will embrace this theme and structure plenary and parallel sessions to reflect this.
2nd Annual Australian Fraud Summit - 16 to 18 April 2013 Sydney
The Australian Fraud Summit returns to Sydney in 2013, delivering the latest leading edge topics to ensure Australian businesses are protected against the fraud exposure.
Further information here
Call to register on (02) 9247 6000 & quote VIP Code: E FXA 1
Content Forum
1st quarter 2013 (Date TBC)
The IIA is continuing to work with an industry partner to jointly convene a "content forum" with interested members, now planned to be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra during the first quarter of 2013.
We believe a forum of this nature to be extremely relevant in light of the structural, legislative and market changes taking place across all sectors of the Internet and Telecommunications Industry in Australia.
Further details and an update on the forum will be provided soon.
IIA working with Government and Industry
The IIA represents the interests of IIA members as a participant in a number of working groups. For further information please contact peterlee@iia.net.au
Consultative Working Group on Cyber Safety is compiling a National Calendar of Cyber Safety Events. If your organisation would like to register an event please contact lynn@iia.net.au
NCSAW 2013 National Cyber Security Awareness Week
next meeting January 2013
ACMA Consumer Consultative Forum
ACCC Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce Partners
Telecommunications Experts Group IIA is working with the Federal Attorney General's Department and other stakeholders.
ACCAN Industry Associations Forum
IIA in the Media
Reuters - Google wins landmark advertising case in Australia
Associations Now - Google Legal Victory in Australia Could Set Worldwide Precedent
Computerworld - IIA 2013 Gala Dinner
COMPUTER DAILY NEWS
Friday, February 22, 2013
ARN - PureSight tops child Internet Safety
ZDNet - What Australian businesses need to know about cloud compliance
ARNnet - IIA skeptical about online media regulation expansion
Computerworld - IIA says proposed media reforms could lead to "over regulation"
