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Australian Report On Progress Towards the Paperless Trading GoalsIn APECˇ¦s Blueprint for Action on Electronic Commerce
Executive Summary
• Australia is actively pursuing the paperless trading goals set out in the APEC Blueprint for Action on E-Commerce through legal reforms, policy coordination measures and a number of practical actions to facilitate electronic systems within specific business sectors.
• Australia has established the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) as the leading government agency on information economy issues. The Office of Government Online (OGO) is responsible for overseeing the provision of all appropriate government services online.
• Australiaˇ¦s priorities are clearly manifest in the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 which was designed to ensure technology neutrality (i.e. no form of technology or IT business approach should be favoured over another) and media neutrality (i.e paper-based commerce and e-commerce should be treated equally by the law). Australia is aiming for a regulatory environment which encourages innovation and growth and is consistent across Australia and with widely agreed international positions.
• Australia recognises that, as major users and customers, governments will be significant catalysts for change, encouraging uptake by signalling their commitment to new technologies and supporting the development of a critical mass of users. The Australian Government is committed to providing all appropriate government services online by 2001 and its E-Procurement Strategy aims to pay all suppliers electronically by the end of 2000, and allow all simple procurement suppliers who wish to deal with the government electronically, using open standards, to do so by the end of 2001.
• The Gatekeeper initiative is establishing a world-class Public Key Infrastructure that will ensure that online transactions are verifiable, secure, and confidential. This will improve confidence in, and use of, e-commerce by business, government and the community.
• This report sets out a variety of initiatives which we believe represent best practice. Two worthy of special mention are our EXDOC and Business Entry Point systems.
• Australiaˇ¦s EXDOC system provides electronic delivery of export documentation and allows access to both the Australian quarantine and customs systems through a Single Electronic Window (SEW). Australia has developed an electronic health certificate (SANCRT) which has been used to clear all Australian edible meat shipments into Japan since March 1998 and is being trialled with other APEC economies.
• The Australian Business Entry Point (BEP) website has been developed to reduce red tape for small business. It provides a single window into the Australian Government, offering: a secure environment for businesses to complete online transactions with, for example, the Australian Taxation Office; a comprehensive database of government and industry programs and services; advice on running a business; and links to government procurement opportunities.
• Australia believes concerns over security and authenticity of online transactions are still hurdles to improving user confidence and changing business practice (e.g. with regard to the use of paper Bills of Lading). Care should be taken [next page]