Australia's IT industries were repeatedly humiliated in 2014

"Metadata farce capped a shocking year for tech policy."

I am reminded of a section in the Economist's online style guide (a good read), admonishing writers to:

"Resist saying This will be no panacea. When you find something that is indeed a panacea (or a magic or silver bullet), that will indeed be news. Similarly, hold back from offering the reassurance There is no need to panic. Instead, ask yourself exactly when there is a need to panic."

In that vein, it's a good article but perhaps it would be easier to just let us know when we cap off a good* year in IT policy.

* - I'm not aiming high, here.

^industry^government

Attorney General George Brandis, etc

Definitely roos loose in the top paddock!

Measured by all past Governments in my voting life: these guys are (dangerous) laughing stock.

M E T A D A T A gonna getcha!

Desensitised

It would appear to me that most Aussies have become desensitised to corruption in politics.

We all know it's going on; they even make press statements - i.e. movie studios meeting with politicians to create new anti-piracy laws.

ps. spewing about TPB!!

With one exception ....

Australian IT companies and associations pretty much tend to be big-time wimps when the government rumbles over them.

Telstra rolls over to protect its various sweetheart deals and monopolist concessions. Ditto Optus. Both are pretty much just rent seekers seeking to make the most out of their long obsolete capital, whilst hoping to become dominant 'partners' at the NBN pot. The other telcos are too small potatoes to challenge a kindergarten and meekly do whatever they are told.

But iiNet has a record of bucking the system and refusing to buckle to protect third parties, the government or whoever. I think they do that to protect their own interests as much as their clients/consumers ... and besides publicity wise it really looks good with the general public - but they do buck the trend rather often.

Of the overseas IT firms ... they pretty much just want to lay low and sell product. So, you won't see them sticking their necks out for anyone but themselves. And at the moment, they just want the tax focus to go away ... so they're laying even lower.

And the industry and IT professional associations: They seem to confuse a 'seat at the table', holding meetings with low level bureaucratic functionaries, and sometimes shaking hands with a MINISTER as relevant, when they are actually being royally ignored by a government going about its business relatively untroubled by infotech, or science, or pretty well anybody who actually knows something about anything.

The only 'stakeholders' this government recognizes are those who go into meetings with them agreeing, wholly and completely, with the government's position ... so what we've got are a plethora of technologically inclined 'Yes Men' - who are no use to anybody.