Federal Court of Australia Working Electronically

The Federal Court of Australia is expanding its e-Lodgement system and offering sessions on it during June 2014. The Federal Court also has an eCourtroom, allowing some matters to be dealt with using text messages. Unfortunately the court is only providing this training face-to-face for these systems. As they are likely to be of most use for those without ready access to the physical court it would make sense to have on-line training in their use.

South East Asia Computer Conference in Brisbane in September

SEARCC 2010, the 26th conference of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC), will be held in Brisbane on 22 September 2010, in conjunction with the World Computer Congress WCC 2010 (I am presenting on Green ICT at WCC ). Here are some excerpts from the SEARCC 2010 brochure:

SEARCC'10 - ICT Leading Change Through Innovation
22 SEPTEMBER 2010
BRISBANE CONVENTION CENTRE, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA ...

Speakers

JOHN SUFFOLK, 9.00 - 10.00am, CIO, UK Government, SHIFTING THE PARADIGM OF GOVERNMENT ICT

John will explore “How do you maximise the reality behind technology such as Cloud computing yet still retail the balance between localism and centralisation”

John was appointed Her Majesty’s Government Chief Information Office on the 5th June 2006. He has a background of over 25 years’ experience in IT and major transformation programmes.

John leads the work of the CIO Council in delivering the Government’s strategy for the transformation of public services enabled by technology. John will also provide leadership to the IT Profession across the wider public sector and enable public service transformation through the strategic deployment of technology which includes driving the use of shared services. John will also act as the ‘“face”’ of UK Government IT both home and abroad.

KUMAR PARAKALA, 10.30 - 11.00am, Chain ERP
Global COO, KPMG & Immediate Past President, ACS
CHANGE TODAY & TOMORROW: WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR CIOs

The role of CIO represents the move from the back office to the Boardroom for ICT professionals. Should the CIO have a business or technical background? Are the CIOs today meeting the needs of tomorrow? Does your CIO look like the CIO of today or the CIO of tomorrow? Kumar looks in to the future of CIOs.

Kumar is the immediate past President of ACS and a Partner at KPMG and fulfils the roles of Chief Operating Officer of Advisory and National Head of IT Advisory practice for India and Global Head of Sourcing.

MARK TOOMEY, 11.00am - 11.30am, Chief Executive, Infonomics
ICT LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE: BUILDING A RESILIENT ORGANISATION IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

Most organizations are highly dependent on IT and can exploit IT for competitive advantage. But despite the shift to commodity components and outsourced supply, the failure rate of IT projects remains unacceptable and operational IT breakdowns cause too much disruption. The key to overcoming these issues is a shift in focus from the supply arrangements to the way that the organization uses IT. Toomey will explain how ISO/IEC 38500 guides effective leadership and governance of IT from the point of view of those who control the business agenda, and show how this can lead to substantial economic benefit.

Mark is the founder, chief executive and principal consultant for Infonomics. Mark is internationally recognised as a leading independent advisor and educator in top level governance of information and communication technology. He has over thirty years experience in planning and delivering IT solutions that enable business performance, and ten years of specialist experience in Governance of IT.

PETER LAMBERT, 11.30 - 12.00am, Head of HR & Corporate, Defence Materiel Organisation
SUCCESS OR FAILURE RELIES ON INNOVATIVE GOVERNANCE AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT – A CASE STUDY ON THE LARGEST LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN ERP ROLL-OUT IN AUSTRALIA THIS YEAR

In July this year, the Defence will roll out the largest Logistics and Supply in Australia, based on Queensland company Mincom’s Ellipse product. The solution supports over 9,000 users across 160 sites around Australia and overseas. The Military Integrated Logistics Information System, or MILIS, manages billions of dollars worth of thousands of significant and complex equipments, millions of related inventory items and varied supply chains originating from Australian and overseas suppliers and extending through multiple warehouses to units and systems around the world, including in Afghanistan. Innovative governance and change management approaches have been a critical contributor to the success (or failure - since we don’t know yet) of the rollout.

Peter Lambert is the Head of Human Resources and Corporate Services n the Defence Materiel Organisation. His responsibilities include workforce and HR management, ministerial and corporate communications, support to operations, external agreements and performance reporting, corporate governance, security and risk, business process improvement, information management and business systems. He is also responsible for the sustainment of Defence’s logistics system and the delivery of the major upgrades to this system.

TAN SRI RICHARD MALANJUM, 12.00 - 12.30am, Chief Judge, High Court Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia
INTEGRATED COURT SYSTEM (ICS) MALAYSIA: AN ICT INNOVATION SUCCESS IN JUDICIAL SECTOR

The Integrated Court System (ICS) project is an exemplary initiative which efficiently integrates IT, Video and mobile technologies for improving the productivity and efficiency of court case dispositions and improving the quality of judiciary services. The open source platform offers a scalable, secure and a reliable model. Since its implementation in 2006, in the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, ICS has reduced the average number of days to settle a case by 80%.

The Right Honorable Mr. Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum was called to the English Bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London and admitted as an Advocate to the Sabah Bar and to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Bar.

His Lordship is the first bumiputra/native of Sabah to be elevated to the high office of a Judge of the High and for the first time since the formation of Malaysia his Lordship became the first Sabahan to be elevated as the Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia.

SENATOR STEPHEN CONROY, 1.30 - 2.00am, Minister for Broadband, Communications, Australia and the Digital Economy, Australia
NBN: THE FUTURE

Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy was appointed Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in December 2007. He is also Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Stephen has a broad range of portfolio responsibilities, not least the National Broadband Network—the largest nation-building infrastructure project in Australian history, and the enabling foundation for our digital economy. Other responsibilities include Australia’s digital television switchover, our national broadcasters the ABC and SBS, media policy, community broadcasting, cyber security and cyber-safety, radio frequency spectrum and Australia Post, among other things.

REGIONAL INDUSTRY, LEADERS FORUM 2.00 - 2.30pm
GROWING OUR NEXT GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY GREATS

Panellists Include:
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Australia);
The Hon Paul Raymond Henderson MLA, Chief Minister of Northern Territory (Australia);
YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Chairman of Sarawak State IT and Resources Council (Malaysia);
Hwang Chang-Gyu, Former Chief Technology Officer, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (Korea);
Shri Sachin Pilot, Union Minister of State, Communications and IT (India).
Moderator: Caroline New, Executive Coach and Business Growth Strategist, Quantum Values.

AJAHN BRAHM, 2.30 - 3.30pm, Spiritual Master
STRESS FREE TECHNOLOGY: LESSONS FROM A SPIRITUAL MASTER

Ajahn Brahm will show how to press the delete button on the problems associated with decision making, removing the worry before and the guilt after. He will also present simple but highly effective strategies for removing the stress of life in front of a monitor, like only a Buddhist monk can do. This humorous presentation will be like no other in this conference. No power points, no jargon, just a new, effective and enjoyable software program for your brain to gain a taste of nirvana.

Ajahn Brahm was born Peter Betts in a poor suburb of London in 1951. He won a scholarship to study Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University in 1969, after which he taught teenagers in high school for a year. That experience was enough to make him leave the world and travel to Thailand to be ordained as a Buddhist monk. He has been a monk for 36 years.

Currently Ajahn Brahm is the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monk Factory, just south of Perth. He is also the Spiritual Director, Advisor and Patron of many organisations. In October 2004, Ajahn Brahm was awarded the John Curtin Medal for his vision, leadership and service to the Australian community by Curtin University. Ajahn Brahm has spoken at many
International conferences and is highly sort after for Executive retreats. He is the author of many books, including the best-selling Opening the Door of Your Heart, currently translated into 20 languages.

PREMIER DAVID BARTLETT, 4.00 - 4.30pm, Premier of Tasmania
ACHIEVING VALUE FROM ICT: HOW TASMANIA IS LEADING TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION IN AUSTRALIA

Premier the Hon David Bartlett is also Tasmania’s first Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.

With the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN), Tasmania is taking a giant leap into a digital future. Telecommunications infrastructure will be the hydro-electric dams, poles and wires of the 21st Century, creating new generation jobs and industries.

David Bartlett understands that the NBN is not just about faster internet but that real benefits will come as our community connects to the network and to each other. There will be new ways of delivering heath, education, government, community and business services.

JOHN GRANT, 4.30 – 5.00pm, Chair, Information Technology Industry Innovation Council, Australia
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY – SECURING OUR FUTURE

John Grant looks at the game changing impact technology is having on ways in which we communicate and work together; Australia’s positioning as a global innovator; the innovation agenda in Australia; a context for innovation and technology in securing our future; and an approach to changing the way we think about problem solving through technology.

John Grant is the Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association and Chair of the IT Industry Innovation Council, one of seven industry councils set up by Federal Ministry for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. He is also Managing Director of Data#3 Limited, an ASX listed IT solutions company. John has also been an outstanding sportsman representing Australia in Rugby League at the 1972 World Cup and Queensland between 1972 and 1975.

SEARCC / WCC DINNER, 7.00 - late
Your SEARCC registration includes dinner on 22 September

SEARCC 2010
The 26th SEARCC Conference ‘ICT Leading Change through Innovation’ is being held in conjunction with the World Computer Congress (WCC).

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The SEARCC 2010 conference is designed for:

• CIOs and leaders in the ICT industry
• ICT Managers
• ICT Governance Specialists
• Individuals interested in ICT, Leadership and Governance

The SEARCC 2010 conference will provide opportunities to form new friendships with delegates from all around the world.

WHAT IS SEARCC?

SEARCC (South East Asian Regional Computer Confederation) is a confederation of national information technology professional societies. SEARCC represents members from Asia-Pacific region including Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. For more info on SEARCC visit
www.searcc.org

WHAT IS WCC?

The World Computer Congress (WCC) is IFIP’s flagship conference and the most prestigious event on the global Information Communications and Technology (ICT) calendar, held every two years. SEARCC 2010 is one of many partner conferences at WCC2010.

WHAT IS IFIP?

The International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) is an umbrella organisation for national societies working in the field of ICT. Established in 1959 by the United Nations, IFIP has 58 member associations in 56 countries throughout the world. With over half a million members, IFIP holds the World Computer Congress every two years.

Register today: www.wcc2010.com/SEARCC ...

From: SEARCC 2010 brochure, 2010

Specifying an Audio-visual System for a Court

The NZ Ministry of Justice has issued a Request for Proposal for " Provision of Audio and Audio-visual Systems for Stage 1 of the Auckland District Court Redevelopment Project". The tender documents provide an excellent detailed specification of the requirements for digital audio and video systems for a court and similar functions, such as a parliament.

General Information

(“the Ministry”) requires provision of equipment, ongoing support and maintenance of Audio and Audio-visual Systems for Stage 1 of the Auckland District Court Redevelopment Project (“the Deliverables”). The Ministry seeks proposals from persons with the capability and expertise to provide the required Deliverables.

Respondents may submit proposals for the following components of the tender package:

- Audio only
- Audio-visual only
- Audio and Audio-visual...

Additional Documentation to Download

5.3.2EACourtroomVCRequirementsStandardV1.2.pdf	Courtroom VC Requirements Standard V1.2	PDF	2.09mb
AgreementforAKLDDCRFPaudioandAVequipment-29.9.08.pdf	Agreement for AKLDDCRFP audio and AV equipment	PDF	123.29kb
courtroomsoundsystemrequirementsstandard3v1G(.pdf	courtroom sound system requirements standard 3v1G	PDF	912.8kb
MoJCablingStandardv1.2.pdf	MoJ Cabling Standard v1.2	PDF	50.23kb
RFPADCAudioandAV v0.2.doc	RFPADC Audio and AV v0.2	WORD	259kb
Technical Specification - Akld DC RFP final.pdf	Technical Specification	PDF	193.01kb

Relates to the following TenderWatch Categories
752 Telecommunications services
754 Telecommunications related services
473 Radio broadcast and television receivers; apparatus for sound and video recording and reproducing; microphones loudspeakers, amplifiers
472 Television and radio transmitters and apparatus for line telephony or telegraphy; parts and accessories thereof
516 Installation work
515 Special construction & trade related work

From: Provision of Audio and Audio-visual Systems for Stage 1 of the Auckland District Court Redevelopment Project, Request for Proposal, NZ Ministry of Justice, 2008

Australian electronic court system

The Federal Court of Australia has introduced an electronic court system eCourt. An interesting aspect of this is that the system is available to litigants (that is people going to court), as well as their lawyers, the judges and their staff. Documents and case details are limited to the relevant parties.

The court has taken a relatively pragmatic and low-tech approach to the e-Court. As an example, e-documents must be "sent" via the Court's home page. Essentially the documents are just uploaded as files to the court web system. There is no provision for emailing documents. eDocuments must be capable of being printed: that is the court doesn't want exotic electronic only formats, just equivalents of paper formats. Those lodging are asked to keep paper copies of the documents (thus assuming paper copies are possible).

Document are not accepted automatically, but have to be checked by a person and are only checked during office hours (thouse after 4:30 pm are considered received the following business day).

Electronic forms supplied can't be filled in using the online system. They have to be downloaded and edited locally using additional software. Forms are provided in PDF and RTF and are not intelligent (needing to be filled in manually or by a program emulating a human operator). Documents can use RTF, PDF, TIF, GIF, JPEG and "any version" of Microsoft Word. Zipped (compressed) files are permitted. It appears that the contents of the documents are not automatically tagged for incorporation into legal workflow systems and must be manually processed when received.

Digital signatures are not used for the documents. Instead a digital image facsimile of the persons autograph is used as a signature. This technique obviously is of little value to authenticate a document. It must be assumed that the user ids and passwords used for the web lodgment system and the encryption used to protect the upload is sufficient. The Court uses SSL encryption (key length?). Apart from this no form of cryptography or other techniques appear to be used to check the integrity of documents against accidental damage or deliberate tampering with documents.

Affidavits are only accepted electronically as "... an image of the document in an appropriate format". This is presumably done on the assumption that it is harder to forge an image of a whole page, than a word processing document which has the image of an autograph pasted into it. While it is more difficult to fake a whole page, it is within the competencies of the average computer literate teenager.

What is incorrectly described as a " file size" has not been set for e-documents at 100 printed pages equivalent.

The Court Registry provides the person submitting the document with a "stamped" copy of the document by email in PDF format. It is not clear what security measures are applied to the emailed document and why the same web interface is not used for returning documents (given the Court does not accept them by email).

Also the Federal Court of Australia is revising its "Practice Note No. 17. Guidelines for the use of information technology in litigation in any civil matter".

By mid 2008, the following were available:

1. eSearch: public to search of cases.
2. eFiling: litigants and legal representatives can lodge Court documents , including applications, electronically. The web based system includes an online guide and credit card payment facilities.
3. eCourtroom: virtual courtroom for pre-trial matters, such as directions and orders by a Judge, with parties and legal representatives participating online.
4. eCase Administration: for legal practitioners and parties to communicate with court chamber staff securely.
5. Commonwealth Courts Portal: Web-based services for judges, lawyers, litigants and court staff of the Federal, Family and Magistrates courts. This provides information on current cases before the courts, cases for particular judges, lawyers or litigants, documents filed and orders made.

Computers for Lawyers

Over Christmas lunch I was asked how to send documents to people in court. My first reaction was to point out that some courts now accept electronic documents. As an example the Federal Court of Australia has an eCourt Strategy, with an Electronic Filing System to lodge e-documents and even a eCourtroom (some courts are considering legal changes to make e-work cheaper). But this has not yet filtered down to local magistrates courts. For these those in the court, inlcuding professionals assisting in the case, may need to supply their own computers, be able to print document for presenting to the court and communicate with their offices.

In large city locations this is less of a problem with major legal firms, who have their offices located near the court and have staff with wheeled handcarts to carry documents back and forth. But in other locations, getting documents to the court is a problem.

The obvious solution is a laptop computer, a small printer and a wireless Internet connection. However, the typical laptop computer bought as a desktop replacement is heavy and cumbersome. A sub-notebook computer may be a better option. A smartphone might even be used, if documents are only occasionally needed. This can be connected to a printer by USB or Bluetooth.

An alternative could be the ASUS Eee PC, but the wireless device needed would have to be checked for compatibility. Many wireless ISPs and mobile data providers only offer Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac compatibility. The devices they provide will usually work with Linux, simply by not installing the software provided and using the networking features in Linux. But you need to know which option to use and where to enter the supplied userid and password.

Usually documents will be sent to the court by email. But this assumes there is someone back in the office to send the document and they are reading their mail or answering their phone. An alternative would be to be able to log onto the corporate system and retrieve the document from the court. In any case the network connection used must be secure enough for the documents accessed.

Portable printers present a problem. These usually cost more than desktop units, have small fiddly batteries, low capacity expensive cartridges and jam prone paper paths. One way around this is to use a thermal printer (as used for old fashioned fax machines). These need no printer cartridge and provide their own roll of paper. Modern fax paper is relatively stable (but the court might still want to photocopy it for stability). An example of such a printer is the Pentax PocketJet 3. This has Bluetooth, allowing access from a smartphone, or USB. There is a battery option.