Sun boss tells us to get an identity
Selina Mitchell
26 September 2000
AUSTRALIA needed a digital slogan to shed its old economy image and the Howard Government could partner with home-grown media players such as Kerry Packer or Rupert Murdoch to win the information economy war, the head of Sun Microsystems said yesterday.
Sun CEO Scott McNealy suggested the federal Government could exploit the many media moguls Australia has spawned and become the "planetary experts" in digital media.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr McNealy also implored the Government to stop wiring up schools and start spending on online teaching aids.
Sun Microsystems, co-founded by Mr McNealy, is a key competitor to Microsoft's digital domination.
"Do you know how useless internet connections in every classroom are?" he said.
"What is that going to do -- unless there is (an) online curriculum that supports the efforts of the teacher?
"And you know why we are not getting online (curriculums)? Because schools have no money. Government should not be wiring the schools but spending money with software developers and professors, and publishing their efforts for free on the internet. Every neighbourhood and school will get their kids online if there is something to see online."
Australia needs an identity, such as Silicon Valley in the US or the Wireless Pocket in Finland, Mr McNealy said.
"There are a couple of very well-known media empires here and a digital media centre of excellence in Sydney doesn't seem like a bad idea.
"Get universities on side, get some government tax breaks, get some government investment, fly people in and get some venture money going and really become the planetary experts in digital media - or pick something else. I don't know," he said.
Mr McNealy added that Australia needed to lower its cost of capital for investment if it wanted to attract venture capital.
Mr McNealy said it was up to the Government to provide all public information and interaction online.
He denied the internet had been over-hyped.
"Everything with a digital or electronic heartbeat will be connected to the internet", from the fridge to the light bulb to the family car, he said.
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