ICT Challenges, Opportunities and New Directions

This ICT strategy will ensure future investment in ICT is aligned on a whole-of-government basis while continuing to deliver the required services fundamental to the functioning of our economy and society. Accordingly, this ICT Strategy is aligned with the objectives of the Public Service Reform Plan of increasing efficiencies and the overarching objective of providing better outcomes for citizens, businesses and public servants.

This Strategy sets out to build on the many successes of the past by continuing to drive delivery of services via digital channels, while maximising the potential benefits of the wide range of data contained across the system. This will support better decision making through data analytics and will provide a better user experience through a joined-up view of citizens and businesses. It is envisaged that further progress can be achieved through a central ICT Strategy; aligning ICT direction and prioritising investment based on whole-of-government objectives. In parallel, the Strategy seeks to leverage current investments in ICT combined with advances in technology, such as cloud computing, to deliver better value for taxpayers by creating efficiencies through integration, consolidation and sharing of common infrastructure, systems and resources.

All Public Bodies require ICT to deliver on their mandate in one form or another and all Public Bodies have successfully utilised technology to drive efficiency and deliver services to their customers across a wide variety of areas from tax collection to education and justice.

This has also been supported centrally though various initiatives such as the Cloud Computing and eGovernment Strategies. Currently there are over 400 services that can be accessed online which include informational services, application services and payment services.

This ICT Strategy recognises that for many Public Bodies, ICT is a complex yet critical component for service delivery. It also recognises that ICT is being successfully used by Public Bodies to support decision-making and to deliver efficient business services.

While challenges lie ahead, this Strategy presents a real opportunity to improve citizen and business engagement, increase internal and external collaboration, further increase efficiencies and improve the overall service provided to citizens and businesses. This table presents the three core opportunities upon which this Strategy has been created, namely Sharing, Digital and Data.