April 29, 2025
The Australian Technology Council has called for the appointment of a dedicated minister for the digital economy, warning that fragmented planning for digital infrastructure could hinder the growth of Australian businesses.
In an interview with SmartCompany via Canva and TCA, Australian Technology Council CEO Damian Kasabki said that delaying this issue will hinder the growth of Australian businesses, particularly in rural areas, where these businesses are exposed to higher costs, inconsistent services, and slower growth.
The call comes after the National Broadband Network (NBN) and technology were notably absent from the campaign discussions leading up to the 2025 federal election.
A Comprehensive Digital Strategy:
In his speech, the Technology Council CEO said that Australia’s connectivity and comprehensive digital strategy require national coordination.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) has gone from being an election issue to merely an afterthought.
He added that this requires special focus, which is one of the reasons the Technology Council has called for the appointment of a Minister for the Digital Economy who will focus on very specific issues, not just related to the National Broadband Network (NBN), but also on how we think about the digital economy from a more holistic perspective, whether that be 5G data centers or data center infrastructure.
Intense Foreign Digital Competition:
This also comes at a time when private satellite companies, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, are increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps left by underdeveloped government infrastructure.
While Starlink currently dominates the low-Earth orbit satellite internet market, particularly in Australia, Amazon is entering the space aggressively.
The tech giant also launched the first batch of Project Kuiper satellites this week. Kuiper plans to eventually deploy thousands of satellites globally to compete directly with Starlink.
This is just the latest sign of the rapid expansion of private solutions, as traditional national infrastructure has lagged behind while demand has increased.
Financial Support:
While $3 billion in financial contributions to the National Broadband Network (NBN) were announced last January, the CEO of the Technology Council stated that the pace of public investment was not meeting the immediate needs of regional businesses.
As a result, the Starlink network has rapidly expanded into long-underserved areas, with the help of major telecoms companies like Telstra and Optus, providing faster internet speeds to some regional and remote communities. He said, “I think it’s a wake-up call, and it’s surprising that in many regional Australians, there is a need to rely on external networks. Ultimately, fiber optics will remain the best technology. But at this stage, if we can’t keep up with demand, there will be room for other companies to enter. From a competitive perspective, that’s very welcome.”
Call for National Coordination:
The Technology Council reiterated this call in a report submitted to the Australian Federal Government’s Research and Development Review, arguing that digital infrastructure must be considered essential economic infrastructure—on a par with roads, energy, and transport—to ensure Australia’s competitiveness.
The report also emphasized that enhancing Australia’s R&D output will depend on reliable, high-speed connectivity, particularly as emerging sectors such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and green technology expand across regions.
The Technology Council’s CEO said: “Whoever forms the government after the election will need to prioritize Australia’s broader technological future if the economy is to maintain its global competitiveness. Compensatory infrastructure programs will not suffice.”
About the Author: Tegan Jones
Deputy Editor at SmartCompany
An award-winning journalist, she has been covering technology, telecoms, and gaming news for ten years. She regularly appears on major media outlets as an expert tech commentator. She previously held editorial positions at Gizmodo Australia and global reviews editor at Finder. She has also worked as a reporter and editor at Business Insider, Lifehacker, and Kotaku Australia. Tegan is also the co-host of one of Australia’s most prominent tech podcasts, Weird Tech. You can follow her on Twitter @Tegan_Writes.
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