| Australian Democrats | yet to receive |
| Australian Labor Party | yet to receive |
| Liberal and National Parties | received |
| The Greens | received |
Support Aussie content skills: allocate at least 10% of government advertising budgets to online advertising, communication, training and accessibility for continuing skills and industry development.
The Internet is widely regarded as primarily a content delivery system. Yet historically, connectivity has mattered much more than content. Even on the Internet, content is not as important as is often claimed, since it is e-mail that is still the true "killer app."
The primacy of connectivity over content explains phenomena that have baffled wireless industry observers, such as the enthusiastic embrace of SMS (Short Message System) and the tepid reception of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). Combined with statistics showing low cell phone usage, this also suggests that the 3G systems that are about to be introduced will serve primarily to stimulate more voice usage, not to provide Internet access.
For the wired Internet, the secondary role of content will likely mean that the dangers of balkanization are smaller than is often feared. Further, symmetrical links to the house are likely to be in greater demand than is usually realized. The huge sums being invested by carriers in content are misdirected.
... Content will have a place on the Internet, possibly a substantial place. However, its place will likely be subordinate to that of business and personal communication.
(c) Internet Society of Australia 2001
This material has been produced by the Internet Society of Australia and its members. The material may be used by any other organisation for genuine policy development and development of the Internet provided that the source is fully acknowledged and a copy of the quoting material is forwarded to the Internet Society of Australia free of charge. Acknowledgement as part of in-confidence policy development will be accepted in certain circumstances provided there is full acknowledgement and notification to ISOC-AU would be appreciated.