(Unfortunately, it has not been possible to continue this page  beyond September 2000.  However, State Opposition Media Releases and news releases, articles, speeches etc by Robert Clark are continuing, as well as pages on Robert Clark's portfolio areas.  See also our News Links page.)

2000

VicOne connects south-west hospitals

The VicOne project established by the previous Government has enabled hospitals in south-west Victoria to order prescriptions and tests over the Internet and cut the costs of video conferencing, with 33 hospitals and associated community health-centres being connected to the broadband network under a $9.8 million project of the South West Alliance of Rural Hospitals (SWARH). (20 June)

Community use of school computers after hours

Schools in remote and rural Victoria will open after hours to provide their local communities with access to the Internet under a new $1 million program, access@schools, which is to provide up to $10,000 each to 100 or more schools across Victoria to provide 12,000 Victorians living in rural and remote areas with 60,000 free or affordable hours of access to the Internet over the next 12 months. Schools throughout Victoria are to shortly receive an invitation from the Department of Education, Employment and Training to apply for funding.  The program will be managed by DEET and will be funded by Multimedia Victoria. (18 June)

Government delays proclaiming internet gaming law

The Victorian Government will not allow any internet gaming licenses to be issued for three months to enable the Commonwealth Government to comment on the Interactive Gaming (Player Protection) Act 1999 before it was proclaimed. (2 June)

(Unfortunately, news items between 10 March and 9 May have not been included, due to pressure of other commitments.)

Adacel to spend $22 million in Wodonga

The Government has announced a $22 million planned expenditure in Wodonga by software engineering company Adacel Technologies, creating 226 jobs over five years and export revenues growing to $25 million per year. (28 Feb)

Grants to promote e-commerce

The Government has announced a $1.3 million program to increase the uptake of e-commerce, particularly in regional and rural Victoria, through grants of $3 for every $1 contributed by local government, up to $45,000, to assist projects such as supply chain initiatives, e-commerce business workshops, networking sessions, regional e-commerce expos, implementation of regional portals and the establishment of electronic payment systems for councils and/or businesses. (24 Feb)

1999

Regional Services Unit opened in Broadmeadows

The Premier, Mr Kennett, has opened the new Regional Services Unit of global telecommunications company Ericsson at the company’s former manufacturing base in Broadmeadows. (24 Aug)

Traffic information on the Internet

Real-time traffic information is now available to Melbourne’s motorists over the Internet. (11 August)

Electrical industry well on the way to Y2K compliance

There is little likelihood of a disruption to Victoria’s electricity supply over the millennium period due to a Year 2000 computer failure, according to a detailed report into the Y2K readiness of the State’s electricity industry commissioned by the Office of the Regulator-General. (3 August)

Y2K readiness near

Victorian Government agencies are within 1.6% of achieving full Y2K readiness with about five months to go before the year 2000. (28 July)

Global Victoria will build on Victoria 21 policy

The State Government is to spend more than $19 million over the next three years under its new Global Victoria policy, which has been developed as a result of the recent review of the Government's Victoria 21 policy. (13 July)

On-line Business Licence Information Service upgraded

An upgraded version of the Victorian Government’s Business Licence Information Service (BLIS), which provides information on licensing, permits and registrations, predominantly for people intending to operate a business in Victoria, has been launched. (13 July)

Improved State Government Internet site launched

The Premier, Mr Kennett, has launched an improved version of the Government’s Internet site, www.vic.gov.au, offering better access to information on Government services. (7 July)

$30 million venture capital fund for IT companies

Victorian information technology companies are to share in a $30 million venture capital fund.

Victorian multimedia trade mission to Ireland

The State Government will lead an overseas trade mission to strengthen Victoria's technology partnership with Ireland.

Maxi database for genealogists

People compiling family trees or curious about their ancestors will now have easier access to information with a new Internet service at Victoria’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Y2K compliance on track

The latest report on public-sector preparation for the Millennium Bug shows that, over the past month, preparedness has risen from 92% to 94%.

New Skills.net grants

The State Government has announced 20 new projects under its Skills.net community Internet training strategy.

Government sponsors Interact Festival for fourth year

The State Government will continue as the major sponsor of the Interact Asia-Pacific Multimedia Festival for the fourth consecutive year.

Magistrates’ Court new home page

Law firms and community legal centres will be able to ascertain quickly and efficiently court dates for their clients through the Magistrates’ Court new home page on the Internet.

Funds devoted to Y2K problem

The Victorian Government has targeted $115 million to safeguard Human Services agencies from the Year 2000 "Millennium Bug".

Revised Data Protection Bill

The State Government has introduced its Data Protection Bill into Parliament.

Skills.net gets international recognition

The Victorian Government’s Skills.net program is a finalist in the world’s largest community information technology awards, the Global Bangemann Challenge.

Growth in household use of IT

In 1998, 16% of Australian households (1.1 million) had home Internet access, an increase of nearly 280% over the 1996 figure of 286,000 Internet households. The proportion for Victoria was around 15% of households.

eKorp and Lonely Planet launch new product for travellers

The State Government has announced that a new venture, eKorp.com Pty Ltd, is to invest $20 million in Melbourne and create up to 600 jobs in developing Internet applications and telephony services.

New framework for Government purchasing over the Internet

The Victorian Government has committed to a new national framework for e-commerce purchasing.

Industry network for software developers

Victorian software developers and producers now have access to a national network providing engineering technology, information and services including education and training, technical problem solving and applied research.

Microsoft DNA laboratory in Victoria

The Minister for Information Technology and Multimedia, Alan Stockdale, has opened the Microsoft Windows DNA (Distributed interNet Applications) Development Laboratory, the first such to be opened outside the US or Japan.

Agencies improve Y2K readiness

State Government agencies have lifted the percentage of essential computer systems ready for the Millennium Bug from an average of 89% to 92%, according to the latest monitoring report.

Budget funding for TV and film script development and production

Victoria's film and television industry is to receive $12 million additional funding over the next four years.

Tourism to go online

The State Government will spend $7.4 million over the next two years to market Victoria online and give all the state’s tourism operators the opportunity to have their wares and attractions featured around the globe on the world wide web.

State encourages e-commerce

The State Government has announced two initiatives to protect the use of personal information and encourage safer electronic commerce.

Y2K budget boosted

The State Government has allocated an extra $133.5 million to prepare the Victorian public sector against the Millennium Bug.

Telecommunications Code of Practice

Victorian is to get a Code of Practice for telecommunications that will provide a single set of performance based planning principles for the whole State.

New law to encourage Y2K disclosure

The State Government has introduced a Bill into State Parliament to encourage voluntary disclosure and exchange of information among business and industry about Year 2000 problems.

Farmers going on-line

The State Government has launched the $100,000 Smart Country program to encourage farmers to increase their Internet awareness.

Intel to invest in Melbourne software developer

The world's largest manufacturer of micro processors, US company Intel Corporation, and venture capital providers Allen & Buckeridge, are to provide capital and resources to Melbourne-based company 80-20 Software.

Internet helps with tertiary offers

Tertiary Education Minister Phil Honeywood has released this year's first round offer details by flicking a switch to commence the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) Internet service. This is the first time tertiary offers have been available on the Internet.

1998

Over 10,000 Victorians benefit from Skills.net

More than 10,000 Victorians now have the ability and tools to use the Internet as a result of the Victorian Government's community-based Skills.net program.

First birthday of 'Maxi' service

Take-up of the Victorian Government's maxi online transaction network has exceeded expectations in its first year.

New Computer Networking Course at Box Hill TAFE

Students of Box Hill TAFE will be the first in Australia to benefit from a new training course in computer networking.

Draft data protection legislation unveiled

The State Government has unveiled the exposure drafts of the Data Protection Bill and Electronic Commerce Framework Bill, which will be the first such legislation of its kind in Australia.

World's largest smart card firm to set up in Victoria

The French company Gemplus - the world's largest producer of smart cards - has chosen Victoria as its headquarters to develop and manufacture smart cards for the Asia-Pacific region.

maxi Network reaches 100,000 milestone

More than 100,000 transactions have been carried out on the Victorian Government's maxi online network in less than one year of operation, the Minister for Information Technology and Multimedia, Alan Stockdale has announced.

Tough privacy laws for City Link data

The Melbourne City Link Act 1995 is to be amended to provide for fines of up to $10,000 for any unauthorised use of personal information in City Link tolling records.

37,000 laptops purchased for teachers

Minister for Education Phil Gude today announced the purchase of 37,000 laptop computers for Victoria's teachers.

Farmers urged to utilise online opportunities

The Minister for Information Technology and Multimedia, Alan Stockdale, has urged Victoria's farmers to get online and experience the value of the Internet for their farm business, following the recent release of a  paper by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) which highlighted the poor up-take of the Internet by Australian farmers.

Victorian TAFEs to go online

Victoria will lead the way with the creation of Australia's first virtual TAFE campus, attracting students from across Australia and overseas.

Millennium Bug Handbook

The Victorian Government and Business Victoria have released a 225-page handbook to assist Victorian businesses and individual computer users in ensuring their electronic systems are Year-2000 compliant.

'Interact 98' IT festival

The Interact 98 Asia Pacific Multimedia Fesitval will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 28 - 31 October.

Step-up of Millennium Bug campaign

The Government is to intensify its ‘Millennium Bug – Step On It!’ campaign, in light of a ‘high level of apathy or disinterest among small and medium-sized firms.’

Victorian Libraries to expand online information network

A new $1.8 million Libraries Online program has been launched to expand public access to the Internet through Victoria’s public libraries.

Funding available for companies to attend IT Trade Show

Victorian multimedia and information technology businesses are being invited to apply for a State Government sponsorship to attend one of the world's largest, most prestigious international IT and multimedia trade fairs - Comdex Fall 98.

1000 new jobs from Call Centre expansion

One thousand jobs are expected be created, including almost 600 in country areas, during the next two years as a result of the decision by Postel to expand its call centre operations.

Docklands Technology Park

The State and Federal Governments have agreed to allocate a total of $22.5 million in seed funding for the establishment of the Commonwealth Technology Park at the Melbourne Docklands.

Victoria wins $53 million silicon chip investment

Victoria is set to become the first state in Australia with a large-scale silicon chip manufacturing operation, following the announcement Robert Bosch Australia will be establishing a new operation for silicon chips at its Clayton plant.

State Government Launches Millennium Bug Campaign

The Victorian Government recently announced a series of measures to assist businesses in addressing the problems arising from the ‘Millennium Bug’ (Y2K).

2000

The Opposition has expressed concern at reports that the Government's Tourism Online project is not complementary with existing tourism booking services and would erode local and regional promotional activity. (30 Aug)

39 Victorian councils will share in $1.5 million funding for e-commerce projects, receiving up to $45,000 to increase the use of e-commerce in their local communities, under the Victorian E-commerce Early Mover (VEEM) Assistance Scheme. (23 June)

The Government has established a new Consumer and Business Affairs Victoria web site. (21 June)

The Government has launched the Victorian Water Resources Data Warehouse, designed to provide improved community access to information about Victoria's Water Resources, at www.nre.vic.gov.au/vwrmn . (21 June)

The State Government is to provide $500,000 to sponsor the  Interact 2000 Asia Pacific Multimedia Festival and has appointed the Parliamentary Secretary for State and Regional Development, Tony Robinson, as Chairman of the Interact Board, replacing the highly regarded merchant banker David Williams. (21 June)

Victoria's Mental Health Library is now available on-line at www.nwhcn.org.au/library. (15 June)

The Minister for State and Regional Development claims the Federal Government's proposed privacy legislation may not meet international minimum standards. (9 June)

(Unfortunately, news items have not been included between 10 March and 9 May, due to pressure of other commitments.)

The Government has announced a $4 million national call centre investment in Bendigo by AAPT that will create 413 jobs, which the Government claims was secured under its Regional Call Centre Attraction Strategy. (10 Mar)

The Government has announced the awarding by Land Victoria of a contract for maintenance and management services for Vicmap Digital (Roads and Topographic) to LANDINFO, the spatial division of consulting firm, Sinclair Knight Merz. (27 Jan)

The Millennium Bug has not affected key infrastructure in Victoria. (4 Jan)

The Minister for State and Regional Development  has launched a $1.7 million microwave link between the University of Ballarat and its five regional campuses, supported by $600,000 in funding from the previous Government. (17 Dec)

1999

A shortlist of four bidders has been announced for Melbourne Docklands' hi-tech precinct, Commonwealth Technology Port (Comtechport). (9 Dec)

The Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, today announced a "major milestone for the highly successful Skills.net program" established by the previous Government - member number 30,000. (7 Dec)

Finance Minister John Brumby has delivered the Victorian Government's final Year 2000 Public Disclosure Statement reporting a 99.7 percent public sector completion rate, and encouraging a "business as usual" approach. (2 Dec)

The Government's film, television and multimedia agency, Cinemedia, will move into the Arts portfolio and the Government will "review spending priorities" within Cinemedia to "ensure that funding to Film Victoria is restored to its previous level" (25 Nov)

Melbourne will host Australia's first National Innovation Summit in February, 2000, a joint initiative of the Business Council of Australia and the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources.  The Victorian Government  would contribute $100,000 toward the costs of the venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. (17 Nov)

The Minister for State and Regional Development has announced a $20 million Technology Commercialisation Program to provide access to business development services.  The funding is being provided from the $310 million Science, Engineering and Technology program established by the previous Government. (16 Nov)

The Minister for State and Regional Development has made a Ministerial Statement on information technology policy - Connecting Victoria (11 Nov)

eSign Australia is to spend $6 million on its purpose-built Regional Operations Centre in Melbourne, under licence from US company VeriSign, creating 67 jobs, the Minister for State and Regional Development has announced.   However, details of the arrangements are regarded as commercial-in-confidence. (9 Nov)

1998