July 1996 President’s Report
01-Jul-1996
Members,
After the Inaugural General Meeting of the Western Australian Internet Association (Inc.) (WAIA) the Executive Committee moved to implement the resolutions of the organisation.
Executive Board Structure
Shortly after the IAGM, the Board formed for the Inaugural Executive Meeting with the following members selected to handle the subsequent portfolios:
Paul McCutcheon – President (as elected) and Government Liaison (Non-IAP representative);
Harry Protoolis – Vice President and Membership (Non-IAP representative);
David Kitson – Secretary (IAP representative);
Michael O’Reilly – Treasurer (IAP representative);
Kimberley Heitman – Media Liaison (Non-IAP representative);
Maryanne Bradbury – WWW (Non-IAP representative); and
Steve Hancock – Internet Liaison (IAP representative).
Each Executive member set forth enthusiastically to set their portfolios up and begin to design the parameters by which they would operate. As with any organisation, the first few months met with a number of teething problems which were resolved with time.
Shortly after the Christmas break of 1995/6 we regrettably accepted the resignation of Maryanne Bradbury from the Executive and, as per the constitution, rapidly moved to find a replacement. This replacement was found in the person of Kim Davies who took over the portfolio of the third Non-IAP representative and the responsibilities of maintaining the Association’s web presence at www.waia.asn.au
In June the Executive was forced into a second alteration with our Secretary, David Kitson, no longer being able to stand as an IAP representative yet still wishing to remain on the Board. By coincidence I was now able to stand as an IAP representative so, to ensure continuity in the Board, David Kitson became a Non-IAP representative and I became an IAP representative.
These two changes were the only ones to occur on the Executive for the 1995/6 Association year which has resulted in, at the time of writing, with the following members handling the subsequent portfolios:
Paul McCutcheon – President (as elected) and Government Liaison (IAP representative);
Harry Protoolis – Vice President and Membership (Non-IAP representative);
David Kitson – Secretary (Non-IAP representative);
Michael O’Reilly – Treasurer (IAP representative);
Kimberley Heitman – Media Liaison (Non-IAP representative);
Kim Davies – WWW (Non-IAP representative); and
Steve Hancock – Internet Liaison (IAP representative).
Government and the Censorship Bill
At the time of the formation of the Executive liaison between an infant WAIA and the Western Australian State Government were already well and truly underway with regards to a proposed state censorship Bill.
From the efforts of Diego Campagna of GlobalData Pty. Ltd., one of the members of the original WAIA foundation committee, a relationship between WAIA and Gary Newcombe of the WA Censorship Department and Frank Morrisey of the WA Justice Department was established. This relationship continues today.
Due to this relationship, WAIA has worked closely with both of the aforementioned Government Officers on a mutually beneficial arrangement to ensure a, hopefully, workable Censorship Act for the state of Western Australia in the form of the Censorship Act of 1996.
Part of the Censorship Act of 1996 is the establishment and gazetting of a Code of Practice for IAP’s and, due mainly to the efforts of Kim Heitman, I am proud to say that projections are good that WAIA’s Code of Conduct will be gazetted by the Minister, Mrs Cheryl Edwardes, and will henceforth become the aforementioned Code of Practice.
This relationship is an Australian first and, quite possibly, world first. It is proof positive that such relationships are beneficial and it is hoped that other Governments and organisations learn from our example.
Promoting our Aims
As per the Aims of the Association, the Board has also been working strongly for the past year in promoting our Aims and Objects throughout the Internet community in Australia.
In May we received word that efforts by Michael Malone of Iinet Technologies Pty. Ltd. who, at the time, was in South Australia, and Brenda Ainsley of Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), had resulted in the establishment of an infant South Australian Internet Association (SAIA) in that State. SAIA wanted to set themselves up using our Constitution and Code of Conduct and, due to possible copyright concerns, permission was so given.
In August we also became aware of the formation of the Australian Capital Territory Internet Association (ACTIA) and, following on from our previous work with SAIA, ACTIA came on board under similar circumstances.
In November we were notified of the formation of the Tasmanian Internet Association (TIA) who will also be following the same organisational concept as WAIA (and, by default, SAIA and ACTIA) have already established.
As Michael Malone recently stated, “And now we are four”.
I have also become aware via discussions with people in Victoria that the VIA may well be the next body to form. I’m in “wait and see” mode on this but I’m confident that the people I spoke to have the drive and perseverance to see the body through to incorporation and beyond.
Our current four Associations are independent by law but act as one in a great majority of issues. As I spoke at the beginning of the year, and now that we have at least three Internet Associations, the time has come to actively consider Federating these bodies under one banner. By this, I mean that WAIA, SAIA, ACTIA and TIA, together with the hopeful creation of the News South Wales Internet Association (NSWIA), the Victorian Internet Association (VIA), the Queensland Internet Association (QIA), and the possible creation of the Northern Territory Internet Association (NTIA), will each place a minimum of one representative on a Federal body otherwise known as the Australian Internet Federation (AIF) to handle the Federal issues and yet maintain their own autonomy on their respective State issues.
It is my fervent hope that AIF, once established, will then be seen by the Federal Government as the true body representing the Internet community within Australia and not that “other” organisation who believe they represent the interests of the Internet community when all they represent is their own self-interests.
At present, it appears that each of our respective Associations receive only slightly better than lip service on a Federal level and it is hoped that a national body will rectify this situation.
Problems
For this inaugural year, WAIA has done well to meet both its Aims and Objectives but we are plagued with a major problem. We suffer from an overabundance of apathy from within the Western Australian Internet community that is holding us back from growth that WAIA should have little problem in experiencing. Apathy is our enemy and all members should be vigilant of this slow form of corporate death.
With the Censorship Act of 1996 coming into force on 1st November, and with the eventual gazetting of the Code of Conduct/Practice, WAIA should be looking towards expanding its growth and assisting the WA Internet community in understanding what is required of them under this Act.
WAIA is now in a position of great responsibility and we must continue to show the Minister that we are capable of handling this responsibility. If we fail in this task we fail for the whole industry in Western Australia.
Conclusion
Being elected to the position of Inaugural President of WAIA by you, the members has been one of great challenge for me. I chaired a dream and helped make it a reality. At this time and if it is the wish of the membership I’ll be able to hand over the reins to my successor knowing that I have accomplished both my goals and the wishes of the combined membership. For the 1996/7 year I hope to dedicate my time to the creation of the AIF and its establishment as the premier representative body of the Internet community in Australia. Hence my stepping down from the honour of being your President this year.
For the 1995/6 year, I thank you. I had a blast.
To the Executive, thanks guys, you made my job fun and a hell of a lot easier.
Paul McCutcheon
President
Western Australian Internet Association (Inc.)
Entered by: Paul McCutcheon
