Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the Hon. Senator Coonan, today announced the 2006 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Australia Awards. B-free was announced as the Rising Star winner for Australian technology companies.

Deloittes is one of the world largest accounting firms with $20 billion plus revenues and over 150,000 personnel.

This award focuses on earnings achievements and future potential earnings with B-free receiving the tick from some of Australia’s most influential finance and IT experts.

Senator Coonan said the Deloitte Fast 50 results were the strongest ever recorded and reflected the resurgence of the Australian technology industry as leaders in the Asia Pacific region.

“This year companies ranked in the Fast 50 recorded a minimum growth level of 132%,” Senator
Coonan said.

Deloitte Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Partner, Julia Bickerstaff, said the results this year were so strong, that the top 70 Australian companies would be included in the ranking of the Deloitte 500 fastest growing companies in the Asia Pacific region this year.

“For the second year running the fastest growing industry segment in the Deloitte Technology 50 was internet based companies, with 34% of the companies from this sector.

“The success of these companies reflects the growing market appetite for internet and broadband services.

“However, the successful new breed of technology companies have learnt from the ‘tech wreck’ and put in place solid business models with steady incremental growth targets that were more cash flow positive and therefore, more profitable,” Ms Bickerstaff said.