Fed: Premiers conference to be held via satellite

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
Fed: Premiers conference to be held via satellite

CANBERRA, Aug 24 AAP - Meetings of premiers and government ministers could soon be
held via satellite if an Australian Capital Territory government proposal is successful.

The ACT government will next month ask the Online Council officials meeting to trial
video technology for high-level meetings.

ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell said the technology would make conferences between
the state and commonwealth governments cheaper and faster.

"There are a number of significant benefits to video conferencing - it would allow
ministerial meetings to be called at shorter notice and with a higher likelihood of attendance
by all State and Territories," Mrs Carnell said in a statement.

"Video conferencing would allow ministers and senior officials more time for discussions,
better briefings and more support and advice than the current interstate meetings structure."

Mrs Carnell said high capacity video conferencing technology was already available
in each state and territory, with Tasmania and the Northern Territory already using it
for court hearings.

The Online Council is a public service body responsible for information technology
issues affecting state and federal governments.

AAP jb/daw/mk

KEYWORD: VIDEO

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