Media Release: Parliamentary Friends of the Digitally Enabled Economy

26, November, 2019

From today, the Federal Parliament will be host to a new Friendship Group, Parliamentary Friends of the Digitally-Enabled Economy, co–founded by Dave Sharma MP and Dr Anne Aly MP.

The group is supported by Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI), a non-profit industry association that advocates for the interests of the digital industry in Australia.

The aim of the group is to expand the dialogue between government and business about how to take advantage of the ongoing growth and innovation of the digital industry in Australia.

Managing Director of DIGI, Sunita Bose, said that “the digitally-enabled economy offers Australians immense opportunities and also brings new challenges. We need industry and Government to work closely together to ensure the nation reaps the benefits of new technologies while keeping Australians safe online, which makes initiatives like this new Parliamentary Friendship Group so important.”

Coalition MP Dave Sharma was excited at the establishment of the group.

“The transition to a more digitally-based economy is a great opportunity for Australia. We need to be at the forefront of this transition if we are to remain a high-living-standard, high-wage country.”

Dr Aly says that the establishment of the group represents an important step in continuing to take the future of innovation and technology seriously.

“Australia is well placed to be a major driver and force in the digital economy. We have the skills and capabilities to use digital technologies for driving innovation, creating job opportunities and economic growth.

By 2022, over 60% of global GDP will be digitised. We need to think about the digital economy in all aspects of society; whether it’s in business, in trade, in innovation or simply in the way we interact with each other.”