The ICT Policy & Program team undertakes project and advocacy on behalf of members, which impact the services delivered by WALGA and which can enhance the online capabilities of members. Some current activities that this team is involved in are:

electronic Development Assessment

The Federal Government has announced the Housing Affordability Fund which includes funding to continue the development of electronic Development Assessments (eDA). The original National eDA project completed in December 2008. The Federal funding will allow the continuation of the eDA for use in Local Governments planning business systems. WALGA is working with the Department of Planning to develop proposals to obtain funding for Local Governments.

• eDA Documents

electronic Land Development Platform

The WA State Government is continuing its development of electronic Land Development Platform (eLDP) which will allow the planning sub division process to be electronic. As par to this project the eDA schema developed as part of NeDA is being used as the communication protocols. This will enable synergies between eDA and eLDP.

National Broadband Network

On 7 April 2009, the Rudd Government announced the establishment of a new company to build and operate a new super fast National Broadband Network.

• National Broadband Network: 21st Century Broadband

This new National Broadband Network will:

• Connect 90 percent of all Australian homes, schools and workplaces with broadband services with speeds up to 100 megabits per second, 100 times faster than those currently used by many households and businesses;

• Connect all other premises in Australia with next generation wireless and satellite technologies that will deliver broadband speeds of 12 megabits per second; and

• Directly support up to 25,000 local jobs every year, on average, over the 8 year life of the project.

Since this announcement, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has begun undertaking preliminary consultation with State and Local Government. The roll out of the National Broadband Network and the provision of telecommunications infrastructure across the State is a welcome investment in Western Australia.

• National Broadband Network FTTP in Greenfield Estates - Interim WALGA Submission June 2009

National e-Authentication Framework

The Office of e-Government is undertaking the coordination role of the National e-Authentication Framework (AGAF2). WALGA has been participating in workshops in the development of this framework.