Australia’s communications consumer, industry and government representatives will gather in Sydney later this month to share their thoughts on how technology can build stronger communities and cross social boundaries.

The second annual Communications Alliance and Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Consumer Dialogue will be an interactive forum, drawing on the shared knowledge of the audience and speakers, including the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Under the theme Building communities through communications, the 2008 Communications Consumer Dialogue will offer a broad range of perspectives through speeches, Q&A sessions and panel discussions moderated by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the dynamic science commentator and media personality.

The all-day forum will take place on Tuesday, 22 July at Customs House in Sydney and is open to all consumers, everyone, free of charge. To register, visit www.slatteryit.com.au/dialogue2008

Communications Alliance CEO, Anne Hurley, said the Communications Consumer Dialogue would provide a valuable opportunity for the industry, government and consumers to look forward and weigh up the options for extracting the full potential from emerging communications technologies.

"From a Communications Alliance perspective, we have a strong commitment to consumer engagement and the insights gained from these discussions will feed into our policy focus for the year ahead," Ms Hurley said.

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman said that the Communications Consumer Dialogue was an innovative and aspirational event designed to bring together and encourage diverse sectors of the community to think about how the growth of new generation communications technologies could enhance the lives of all within the community.

"The Dialogue represents an opportunity for us all to step outside our everyday lives and listen, learn and hopefully respond to the issues raised throughout the day," Mr Chapman said.

"ACMA is continuing to look to stretch the boundaries of our interaction with stakeholders and the Dialogue is another way in which we look to engage with the community and to jointly consider the challenges and benefits provided by communications technologies."

Topics for discussion will be:

How technology is impacting on human behaviour (speaker – Dr Andrew Campbell, University of Sydney);

Building communities through partnerships (speaker – Professor Daniela Stehlik, Curtin University of Technology);

The accessible future – challenges and strategies to get there (speaker – Graeme Innes AM, Human Rights Commissioner);

Keynote speaker – Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy;

Consumer representation (speaker – Keith Besgrove, DBCDE);

Remembering Christopher Newell (a tribute to the late Dr Christopher Newell);

Perspectives on future models for empowering and protecting consumers (speaker – Jenni Mack, CHOICE);

The power of technology (panellists – Jack Heath, Inspire Foundation and Kylie Little, Essential Baby);

Achieving equitable access (panellists – Tim Noonan, Consultant, Dierdre O’Donnell, TIO, Teresa Corbin, Consumers Telecommunications Network).