ICT Minister Senator Helen Coonan said the ICT advisory group was strengthened to include "peak business bodies" to ensure the needs of businesses are also considered in the development of ICT priorities

"The Ministerial ICT advisory group plays an important role in providing the government with strategic advice about the development of new ICT priorities," Coonan said. "ICT offers significant potential to further build economic growth, prosperity and quality of life for all Australians. Strengthening this group will ensure we identify our key areas and capitalize on relevant export and trade opportunities for the effective deployment of ICT."

Alongside Vamos are representatives from HarvestRoad, Alcatel, Data #3, EC Strategies, Canon, Macquarie Bank, National ICT Australia, and the CSIRO ICT Center.

The revised advisory group met today to identify and develop future ICT priorities.

The group discussed priority areas, including identifying sectors of the economy with the most potential for economic development and ensuring Australia's ICT capability fully supports these sectors - particularly with regard to investment, research, skills and development of personnel - and ensuring government and industry achieve and maintain the best ICT capability over the next five years.