Aboriginal communities hit due to the lack of government action

As the fate of a major project set to supply 134 indigenous remote communities over 550 locations with computer systems and access to the internet currently hangs in the balance it would appear that the lack of action by the government will see Australia’s aboriginal communities paying the price.

As part of the former federal governments’ commitment to improving the quality of life for Australia’s indigenous communities it initiated the project in 2006 that, due to the decision that was made at Department level it is, unlikely to be achieved in the short term.

Director of Canberra-based paradigm IT Solutions, which won the project tender, Roger Smith “We are totally perplexed by the Department’s reasoning for its decision, supposedly based on equipment delays, when the computer equipment is here and ready to be rolled out. This is just another slap in the face for remote indigenous communities, who are being left behind in the digital economy because of bureaucrats who have no understanding of their plight and of the huge importance of this project.

At no time was the Department interested in the outcomes and betterment of the communities that this project was designed to help and those involved seemed to have little, if any, project management experience.  And, after having invested more than $500,000 in the project over 18 months, we have been advised that we will not be reimbursed for our work or the equipment.”

Although Paradigm IT has said that doesn’t currently intend to provide online access to remote indigenous communities Mr Smith has, however, confirmed that the department is in a good position to fully complete the BIA project.

He said “Those within the Department should be accountable for their actions, because at the end of the day it is the indigenous communities that are paying the ultimate price.  We’ve worked with these communities for several years and we know what they need.  Unless urgent action is taken it will be another five to 10 years before they even get internet access, which is totally unacceptable in a first-world nation such as Australia.”