Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I have an additional answer to the question asked of me by Senator Carr today in relation to NICTA. The government will maintain $84.9 million worth of funding over two years, to 30 June 2016, for the ICT centre of excellence program delivered by NICTA.

The Howard government established NICTA in 2002 to increase the scale and quality of Australia's ICT research and development. It was always envisaged that, over time, funding from the private sector would play an increasingly important role in supporting NICTA's operations. NICTA's rapid recent growth in commercial revenue through its partnerships with domestic and overseas firms demonstrates its growing capacity to draw funding from a wider range of sources. Hopefully, the ministers accompanying the German Chancellor would have encouraged German investment.

In recognition of NICTA's maturity and current stage of development, the government considers that the time is approaching for NICTA to stand on its own feet. The government is committed to working with NICTA to help it secure its ongoing operational viability from 1 July 2016.