Howard govt feared slow Y2K bug preparations, cabinet documents reveal


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Predictions of a chaotic IT collapse brought on by the Y2K bug had the Howard government fearing Australia was unready for the worst, previously classified documents reveal.


As the year 2000 approached, the federal government in 1997 took seriously the warnings that the new millennium’s arrival could play havoc with electricity, hospitals and traffic lights.


The “millennium bug”, cast by some as a looming apocalypse, brought on hundreds of billions in estimated spending worldwide to avoid catastrophe.


John Fahey with John Howard in Parliament. The then finance minister warned cabinet that Australia was slow to get ready for the millenium bug.

John Fahey with John Howard in Parliament. The then finance minister warned cabinet that Australia was slow to get ready for the millenium bug.Credit:Andrew Meares


Cabinet documents from 1996-1997, released on Tuesday by the National Archives of Australia, show the federal government feared inaction could expose emergency services, telecommunications and navigation equipment to failure.


Article source: https://www.smh.com.au/national/act/canberra-now-news-in-90-seconds-for-tuesday-april-17-2018-20180416-h0yur7.html?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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