eBusiness – Security & Legal Issues [Betts, QUT] 2002-067-A

Overview

Despite the Federal Governments Electronic Transaction Act of 1999 confirming the general principle that there is no impediment to a person entering contracts via electronic communication, the basis and protocols for working electronically remain undeveloped. All organisations will be increasingly required to trade electronically. A basis for legally compliant electronic trading, particularly the negotiation and establishment of contracts, together with the appropriate software tools, needs to be established. Construction organisations currently have little knowledge of, and expertise in, the legal and security aspects of trading on-line. Differences between State and Commonwealth legislation exacerbate this situation. Construction organisations and their clients need tools to facilitate secure and legally admissible (exclusive) use of information and communication technology (ICT) in their practices.