Prime Minister Julia Gillard has used her first day in Perth to highlight the benefits to Western Australian small businesses the National Broadband Network will bring.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has used her first day in Perth to highlight the benefits to Western Australian small businesses the National Broadband Network will bring.
Speaking at The Beaufort Street Merchant at the launch of Google and MYOB's Getting Aussie Business Online initiative, Ms Gillard said the national broadband network would open up the digital economy and enable small businesses to trade differently.
Google and MYOB's initiative is designed to clear hurdles for small businesses having an online presence, by making available free websites that are easy to set up and maintain.
Google and MYOB said they planned to sign up 50,000 businesses this year, with around 5,000 already having signed up for the service.
Ms Gillard said the Beaufort Street Merchant's website was a good model for other small businesses to follow.
"This business is now in part being driven by its web presence, by people booking to be in the restaurant, by people buying hampers of food, by people joining the wine club, the beer club and the coffee club," Ms Gillard told reporters.
"This is connected with Facebook so people can reflect on the times they've spent in this business, driving more patronage and more trade.
"We want to make sure other small businesses have access to this kind of development for their business."
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the initiative was crucial for small businesses to have the opportunity take part in the digital economy.
"If you aren't online, you are effectively invisible to an increasing number of customers who are searching for services on the internet," Mr Conroy said.
"If your business or your community organisation is not online and not transacting online, you're also missing out on many of the benefits of the online economy."
Senator Conroy also said the Gillard government would provide a framework in coming months to enable industry and business to build on and take full advantage of the national broadband network.
The National Digital Economy Strategy will map key areas of focus and outline programs that will allow families, not-for-profits and small and medium businesses to tap into economic and social benefits from the NBN.
Senator Conroy said he would make further announcements regarding the strategy in May.
