The purpose of this Memorandum is to inform Ministers and agencies that an Intergovernmental TelePresence Network is available for conducting meetings between NSW, the Commonwealth and other State and Territory Governments. TelePresence is a high-definition videoconferencing system that provides a life-sized, virtual face-to-face environment for meetings.

The Council of Australian Governments established the Intergovernmental TelePresence Network to reduce travel relating to government business and its related greenhouse gas emissions as part of the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency. The NSW Government has commissioned a TelePresence site in Sydney as part of this initiative. This site can only connect with other TelePresence units that are part of the same Commonwealth Government secure network, which includes at least one site in the offices of each State and Territory Government.

The NSW Government TelePresence site is located in Governor Macquarie Tower and is administered by the Department of Premier and Cabinet. A protocol governing arrangements for booking and using the facility is published at: www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/telepresence.

In order to maximise the benefits of the TelePresence network in terms of cost, environment and productivity, Ministers and agencies are encouraged wherever practical to use the system for convening intergovernmental meetings as a substitute for travel to face-to-face meetings.

Kristina Keneally MP
Premier