Our Ministers have determined nine strategic priorities. These priorities will be the areas of primary focus for the Department over this term of Government and are outlined below.
Implementing new measures
A major implementation task for the Department is the Industry Statement – Global Integration: Changing Markets, New Opportunities – which was launched on 1 May 2007 by the Prime Minister and Minister Macfarlane. The Statement consists of both new initiatives and enhancements or continuations of existing initiatives. The initiatives within the Statement are the: Global Opportunities program, Australian Industry Productivity Centres; changes to the 175% Premium R&D Tax Concession, National Nanotechnology Strategy, Commercial Ready Plus, Intermediary Access Program, Australian Business Number (ABN) Registration Project and an extension of the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business (BESB) Program. In addition to the Industry Statement, the Department will need to deliver the enhanced Australian Tourism Development Program, a national regulatory framework for Carbon Capture and Storage and several new energy policy initiatives including the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program.
Global integration
The Global Opportunities program, a major initiative under the Industry Statement, will assist Australian industry to link into global supply chains and bid for work on major international projects. The Department will review the placement of Invest Australia's offshore resources in light of results achieved; and work with multinational enterprises operating in Australia, to encourage increased investment and closer links with Australian companies and research organisations.
The Department will continue to assist in trade negotiations for free trade agreements including with China, the Gulf Corporation Council, ASEAN and Malaysia while working with China, Japan and India on projects of mutual benefit. The Department will complete APEC Australia 2007 activities, including any input required for Leader's Week. The Department will also continue involvement in the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6).
Securing Australia’s energy future
The energy policy framework focuses on maintaining competitive electricity and gas prices through energy market reform and improving energy efficiency; ensuring the security of energy supply; and reducing emissions through development of new technologies. The Department will undertake an energy security outlook review; support Low Emission Technology Demonstration Fund projects; implement Council of Australian Governments (COAG) decisions on electricity transmission and energy market operator reforms; and develop nuclear energy regulatory and information work plans for consideration by Government.
Capitalising on Australia’s resources
To enhance the resources sector’s contribution to the Australian economy, the Department will continue to work towards increasing the sector’s international competitiveness, expanding Australia's resources base and improving the regulatory regime. The Department will implement a national framework for mine safety and establish a regulatory framework to support carbon capture and storage projects in Australia.
Measurable reduction in compliance burden
The Department will continue to pursue regulatory reform on a whole of government basis to provide a measurably simpler and less costly business environment. It will develop an integrated online registration system for both the Australian Business Number (ABN) and state and territory business names. The Department will also progress mutual recognition of business licenses with significant impact on business and examine the drivers of compliance burden for small business identified in the Board of Taxation scoping study. Through the COAG National Reform Agenda, the Department will continue to promote and participate in cross-jurisdictional reforms, taking a lead role in regulatory reform for chemicals and plastics, building regulation and begin the transition work to implement a National Trade Measurement System.
Commercialisation, collaboration, and investment in innovation
As part of the Government’s innovation policy agenda the Department will continue to focus on the linkage between innovation and growth, stimulate collaboration, improve data collection and analysis, and seek to maximise the return on public sector investment in research and innovation. The Industry Statement will introduce: changes to the 175% Premium R&D Tax Concession to allow firms to make claims for additional R&D undertaken in Australia regardless of where the intellectual property is held; the Intermediary Access Program to connect small businesses with public researchers and other businesses; the Commercial Ready Plus Program which extends the support available under Commercial Ready to encourage innovation in small firms; and new Australian Industry Productivity Centres across Australia to help firms review their business performance and capitalise on new market opportunities.
Australia as a leader in platform technologies and industries of the future
The Department will continue to promote the development of frontier technologies and sectors including: the development of a National Nanotechnology Strategy; a review of the National Biotechnology Strategy; managing the Australian Government's investment in the Australian Stem Cell Centre; developing stage 2 of the Regulatory Map for Biotechnology; and implementation of the Medical Devices Industry Action Agenda.
Skills development to meet business needs
The Department will continue to work with the Departments of Education, Science and Training and of Employment and Workplace Relations, to implement the Government’s skills shortages agenda. It will participate in mechanisms to increase industry influence over the skills formation process, facilitate industry skills initiatives through Action Agendas and carry out research into specific skills related matters as they impact upon industry. It will continue to provide skills development, incubation and advisory services to small business owners and managers throughout Australia through the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business (BESB) program. It will also continue to address the labour and skills needs of the tourism industry; and conduct other analyses of longer-term skills developments.
Microeconomic reform and the business environment
Some issues of critical importance to industry fall outside our direct policy responsibility. The Department will work to influence the policy agenda across a range of areas, including taxation, infrastructure, competition policy, regulatory reform, the microeconomic reform agenda, and the development of water policy.
Return to DITR Strategic Plan 2007-2010