Daniel Hulme MP - Working for you in Franklin

I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Mellukerdee people.

I also wish to acknowledge my Parliamentary colleagues and fellow Members for Franklin, Deputy Premier Lara Giddings and Ross Butler.

It was ten years ago when the Bacon Labor Government established Tasmania’s online access centres and as a result celebrations like today’s are taking place throughout the State over the course of this year.

Playing a central role in the development of the centres was my immediate predecessor, Paula Wriedt, who was Education Minister at the time and at the time of her retirement from politics she cited it as one of her proudest achievements.

our network of 65 other Online Access centres and 46 libraries all play an important role in providing learning opportunities for Tasmanians.

The Woodbridge OAC was officially opened on 3 July, 1999, and has since become an integral part of the wider community.

In 2008-09, the Woodbridge OAC conducted 14 courses (free and fee based) which were attended by over 45 clients and volunteers.

The centre offers a range of formal and informal courses, including eLearn, which is a 10-week course designed to give participants basic information technology skills, and is a stepping stone to further accredited courses such as the Certificate II in Information Technology.

The success of OACs demonstrates the Tasmanian Government’s foresight in 1999 in recognising the central role that information would play in an increasingly connected society.

I think it is therefore fortuitous that we have a Premier who—having worked previously in the ICT sector—understands the value of access to information.

The challenge for this Government will be anticipating the information needs of Tasmanians over the next ten years.

To build a clever and connected community, we need to create lifelong learning opportunities for all Tasmanians.

Underpinning those opportunities will be the tools and technologies of the 21st Century: superfast optic fibre broadband delivered to homes and business throughout Tasmania.

As the first state to receive the rollout of the National Broadband Network, Tasmania will literally become the most connected place on the planet.

Broadband speeds of 100Mbps will revolutionise the learning opportunities in this state.

Superfast broadband will form the backbone to Tasmania’s information revolution.

Last year, David Bartlett said that he wanted to see a clever, kind and connected Tasmania.

Information and the way we share it underpins our approach to providing knowledge and learning opportunities to a connected community.

Broadband is only one component of a connected Tasmania.

Another important component is the Community Knowledge Network.

Through our Community Knowledge Network – which consists of Online Access Centres, Adult Education, and the resources of the State Library and State Archives – Tasmanians will be connected to learning.

The Woodbridge OAC will participate in an exciting new direction under the Community Knowledge Network through its association with the establishment of the Kingston Learning and Information Network Centre (LINC).

Like all LINCs, Kingston will deliver community education services throughout its immediate geographical region.

For example, it will mean that people in the South of the Channel will have access to a wider range of training courses than has previously been available.

The Libraries, the LINCs, the Community Knowledge Network and the rollout of our optic fibre network all come together to provide unprecedented networking and learning opportunities for small local communities such as Woodbridge and the Channel.

It is an exciting time for Tasmania, and the need for affordable Internet access for many members of our community means that OACs will have a central role.

Of course, OACs would be nothing without their hard working staff and volunteers.

I would like to thank the centre coordinator, Kim Deane, and the Woodbridge Community Association which is responsible for managing the OAC as well as the numerous volunteers for their hard work and dedication over the past decade.

The Woodbridge OAC has made a real difference to people’s lives and improved their futures over the past 10 years and I’m sure will continue to do so in the future.