Nexus - 0110 - New Times Magazine-pages

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— ; le POLIS For many years now, the Federal government . “has been telling us that the most important problem -— that Australia faces is that "the economy" is sick. And _}; that they have the solutions, such as new defence co, “contracts, tax reform, economic de-regulation, oe S 4 export drives and... build a Multi Function Polis. “~Q ap S POLIS “hat is the purpose of the Multi Function Polis? ‘hat is the purpose of the The 'High-tech' is taken toemphasize that increasingly PR-managed infor- Multi Function Polis? bio-technology, materials science, and _ mation makes Australians captive to the computer software, which both MITIand powerful self-interest of bureaucrats, Reports say it is meant to be ahigh tech Australia's equivalent DITAC, have politicians and corporations; turning educational research centre, facilitating elsewhere nominated as key tech- democracy into autocracy. technology transfer from Japan, and an _ nologies for the next century - in all of As Yoshio Sugimoto, Professor of infusion of Japanese industrial which, Australia has considerable Sociology at La Trobe University, has management know-how. It is meant to advantages over Japan, especially in said, it is disturbing that the MFP Joint transform Australia's economy into _ basic research and creativity, although Steering Committee observed that "it is burgeoning "sunrise industries”, boost weare weakin productdevelopmentand necessary to control the consciousness exports and clear foreign debt. commercialization. of public and related organizations very The Multi Function Polis idea Although hazy on details, MITI's carefully"... and it is also disquieting that originated in Japan's Ministry of Inter- _ paper placed the emphasis distinctly on the Department of Industry, Technology national Trade and Industry (MITI) social infrastructure (health services, and Commerce (DITAC) placed an leisure division and looks very much an communication and transport, educ- embargo on a Social Impact Study's up-graded, less segregated, Australian ation) and "quality of life”. Discussion _ publication for over a year because it version of the Japanese "technopolis” ofhigh-techindustry dealtprimarily with — contained points which did notagree with concept. This was to be a network of _ basic research - Japan's weak link. There the view of Canberra bureaucracy and regional "mother-cities" of 100-200,000 __ is little detailed discussion of industrial | MFP’s commercial participants.” people that were planned as "focal points development, beyond acknowledging _Initiated by Japan's MITT, the MFP is for advanced research in sunrise the Australian Government's interest. funded by a selected “membership” industries", dispersing industrial growth Unquestioned assumptions, priorities consortium of major Australian and from the Tokyo-Osaka corridor to new —_and corporate domination which is built Japanese corporations, under a joint regions; using "jobs" to getdevelopment _into the MFP and similar projects worry Australian-Japanese Government approvals & votes for the party in power. __ the critics. umbrella. The MFP's goals, structure, or "A city with human dimensions... a 3 implications have surfaced only in PR- semi-residential city for international, managed “seminars” and kite-flying PR academic and_ interdisciplinary news releases, obviously testing public exchange providing, gathering, and reaction, teasing up enthusiasm, and reproducing information... between enlisting support by targeting the self- people from different regions, staying interest of defined groups, including the from several weeks to years, with a large Australian State Governments. number of permanent residents, There are two main concerns. Firstly Many critics are highly skeptical featuring both high-tech and ’high- that the proposed MFP could about likely technology transfer from touch’ (tourist, entertainment, resort dangerously direct future Australian Japan to Australia. Quoting Professor and convention) industry" is how the research and technology, society, and © McCormack "While the Australian side original 1987 MITI Concept Report on labour conditions dominantly to is clearly attracted by the prospect of the Multi Function Polis speaks of it. international corporate profit. Secondly _ introducing Japanese ‘high-tech’ industry T hey see a web, with collective 2 implications:far beyond those pparent in any one project in The ‘High-tech’ is taken to emphasize bio-technology, materials science, and computer software, which both MITIland Australia's equivalent DITAC, have elsewhere nominated as key tech- nologies for the next century - in all of which, Australia has considerable advantages over Japan, especially in basic research and creativity, although we are weak in product developmentand commercialization. Although hazy on details, MITI's paper placed the emphasis distinctly on social infrastructure (health services, communication and transport, educ- ation) and "quality of life". Discussion of high-tech industry dealt primarily with basic research - Japan's weak link. There is little detailed discussion of industrial development, beyond acknowledging the Australian Government's interest. Unquestioned assumptions, priorities and corporate domination which is built into the MFP and similar projects worry the critics. There are two main concems. Firstly that the proposed MFP could dangerously direct future Australian research and technology, society, and labour conditions dominantly to international corporate profit. Secondly is clearly attracted by the prospect of introducing Japanese ‘high-tech’ industry Nexus *10