Innovation and Communications Technology and Business Productivity: Statements Made By Former Prime Minister

Mr Fletcher asked:

1) In respect of the press statement made by Mr Rudd on 7 April 2009, in which he said that 'It has been estimated that innovation from information and communications technology is the biggest driver of business productivity. It drives 78 per cent of productivity gains in service business and 85 per cent in manufacturing.', is she able to confirm that the source of these claims was:

   a) Revesez, J., Anderssen, H. and Boldeman, L. (2004), 'Productivity growth in Australian manufacturing', NOIE Occasional Economic Paper,    Australian Government National Office for the Information Economy, Canberra, ACT, page 59; and

   b) Revesez, J., Anderssen, H. and Boldeman, L. (2005), 'Productivity growth in service industries', DCTIA Occasional Economic Paper, Australian Government Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Canberra, ACT, page 68.

2) Is she able to say whether the percentages stated in Mr Rudd's speech were estimates of the upper range of the expected productivity gains or estimates of the actual expected productivity gains from innovations from information and communication technology?

3) Can she confirm that the research covered all technological factors and not only information and communications technological factors?

4) Can she explain how the research supports the Government's policy?

 Ms Gillard responded:

I am unable to confirm the source of the statement by the former Prime Minister on 7 April 2009 and accordingly am unable to answer the remaining questions.