Australia: Greg Pearce, New South Wales (NSW) Finance and Services Minister, Australia, unveiled a draft document that maps the state’s strategic framework for IT and communications (including geospatial industry). The 20-page consultation document outlines objectives and priority areas intended to ensure NSW’s USD 2 billion per annum ICT budget is well spent.
Moreover, it is one of the few times NSW has asked for public feedback on a policy matter, The Australian observed. A website for comments and submissions has been created at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/ict. NSW hopes to release its final ICT strategy early next year.
One major goal is to improve service delivery through a whole-of-government approach for everything from information-sharing to procurement. “The NSW government will be a leader in the use of ICT to transform government service delivery, make it easier to do business with government, and build sustainable public sector productivity to the benefit of the entire state,” the vision statement said.
The draft document outlined four guiding principles: senior leadership via the formulation of a government ICT Board; strategic industry engagement through the ICT Advisory Panel of private sector and research leaders; a focus on service delivery, and adopting a portfolio management approach to reduce duplication and improve productivity.
Senior business leaders across government identified five main areas for improvement: better information-sharing between departments and agencies; real-time services available 24X7 via mobile devices and increased use of online channels; the use of emerging technologies to develop new services, and up-skilling public sector employees in financial and performance management.
Source: The Australian
