February 15 1999 Meeting with Carlo Carli
Date Monday 15th February 1999
Location Carlo Carli's office, Coburg
Time 7.30pm
Agenda None specified
Minutes
Present: Kylie Davies, Peter Eckersley, Patricia Fraser, Christopher Anderson Apologies: Carlo Carli
Carlo Carli is a Labour MLA, and is the Victorian Shadow Minister for IT.
Chris explained that Carlo could not be there, and that he was deputising. Chris is interested in Computerbank, and thinks that the current government policy is lacking, and that it doesn't focus on the potential benefits of IT for people but more on the bells-and-whistles aspects of technology.
Chris is concerned about how Carlo's office can help, morally and practically. We discussed networking, access to VMORE, the potential for SkillsNet to assist. Chris feels we need "Champions", high-profile community figures to back us and speak for us to get into the SkillsNet loop. He mentioned the Australian Community Networking Alliance, where Kylie already has contact and has arranged for us to give a paper at their conference. (submit a proposal for a presentation)
Chris returned several times to the need for third-party endorsement.
Discussing the way forward, we noted that there were some excellent potentials in the alliance with VMORE: a training alliance, potential SkillsNet joint projects. Paolo Ricci is the current Secretary of VMORE. Potentials with the Labour party not so obvious, but their support for the objectives of Computerbank is quite real.
Chris mentioned the Labour party policy platform launch was to be in two weeks' time (this may have been pre-empted by events this week). He invited us to come; it's on the 27th and 28th of February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The policy platform will include generalist IT and multimedia commitments, and a commitment to technology literacy.
Chris suggests some contacts for us:
- Howard Kelly is chief of multimedia at the Learning Technologies Section of the Vic. Dept. of Ed.
Government/Parliament:
- Senator Kate Lundy, Senator from the ACT, Federal Shadow IT Minister, senator.lundy@aph.gov.au.
- Senator Natasha Stott Despoja - her researcher in IT is Charles Lawson. Kylie has already contacted Sen. Stott Despoja.
- Victor Perkin, Member for Doncaster (Liberal)
- Alan Stockdale
Organisations:
- VCOSS / ACOSS
- IEE in Vic (potential members!)
Chris is particularly interested in regional access issues, and suggested we contact Bob Cameron, the member in Bendigo. Don't know whether this is Toby's electorate.
The meeting closed without any definite conclusions being reached but with the feeling that it had been cordial and productive.
It was suggested that we find ways to present Linux as a strategic investment.
Chris asked to be subscribed to the list; this has been done.
