The Alliance was formed in January 2001 and has met at two-month intervals since that time. It has no permanent staff or corporate assets and operates under the voluntary effort and chair of members.

The Alliance will principally exercise its influence through better coordination of industry programs undertaken by its members, rather than direct lobbying or the branding of particular programs, although circumstances may arise from time to time where representationsives to government on behalf of constituent members may be warranted.

There are a number of policy and program areas where there is potential to strengthen the communication channel to governments and the community through collaborative programs – e.g.:

• Promote the growth of the ICT industries in Australia and its contribution to the economy.
• The gathering and publication of industry information and statistics.
• Research and publication of data that measures the contribution of the ICT industries to national social and economic development.
• The support of education and skills programs to support industry development.
• The encouragement of innovation, R&D through:
  • Support of institutional based research programs.
  • Recognition and reward for institutional and corporate R&D and commercialisation.
  • Protection of intellectual property rights, including software and content in the online environment.
• Promotion of Australia’s business, institutional and residential use of the Internet & online services through:
  • Ready access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services, including broadband.
  • The promotion of a secure and trusted online framework for the conduct of e-business and individual online access.
  • Effective competition among service providers.
  • The support of local online content development and distribution.
• The support of investment and entrepreneurship through appropriate taxation policies.
• Encouraging international companies to locate major facilities and headquarters operations in Australia.
• Publish the results of successful collaboration amongst members.

The ICT Alliance will seek to foster communication and cooperation with related organisations that may operate within state boundaries or other jurisdictions and that share the common interests identified above.

The ICT Alliance will exchange views on current issues and concerns so that the individual initiatives can benefit from the knowledge of others’ programs and views and joint initiatives be pursued when appropriate among those members who see benefit. The Alliance does not seek a media or external profile of significance. The Alliance Convener appointed by agreement and the role will annually. Meetings are scheduled ideally to align with events that would bring most members to a location for other reasons.

The Alliance’s public profile will focus on membership contacts, as well as programs and information that has support across the membership. The Alliance website is supported by the convening association.

The Alliance may actively support initiatives of its individual members where there is alignment of interests among the members. In such cases, cross linking of programs through website links and other references, joint branding of projects and events, joint media promotions, approaches/delegations to governments and regulators may be part of collaborative work programs in areas of common interest. In these cases, a lead member would undertake management and coordination of the activity.

It is the mission of the National ICT Alliance to:

Provide a forum where industry organisations representing the Australian information and communication technology industries and the interests of ICT professionals can meet, as required, to exchange views and discuss initiatives to advance promotion and development.