To address the Australian Information Industry Association’s release of the Digital Government Strategy, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills and Family Business Stuart Robert has outlined the Australian Government’s plan to become a globally leading digital government.
A new range of initiatives has been announced to help coordinate the effort. Aside from this, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has been moved to the central portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The DTA has also significantly refocused its mandate to provide the best strategic advice, oversight and assurance across the breadth of the government’s entire digital estate.
Minister Robert stated that he would ensure that the country’s digital acceleration is focused on the citizen’s needs instead of the structures of the government.
‘The Digital Government Strategy is a bold strategy that sets the vision for Australia to be one of the top three digital governments in the world by 2025 and will have the foundations to retain this position into the future,’ he said.
In order to achieve this vision, Minister Robert stated that all Australian Government departments and agencies must work together.
‘We must be pulling in the same direction, it will be our laser-like focus to make sure that happens.’
One of the initiatives is the new Whole of Government Digital and ICT Oversight Framework. This framework allows the DTA to provide oversight of digital and ICT investments across the entire project lifecycle through increased strategic planning, prioritisation, contestability and delivery assurance.
Another initiative is the Whole of Government Architecture, which is expected to provide the standards, guidance, products and tools necessary to support Australian Public Service agencies in designing end to end digital capability.
The Australian Government is continuing to invest in digital platforms, revamping digital resources such as myGov and Digital Identity to make it easier for people to discover, access and manage over 80 government services.
Businesses are to be invited next week by the Australian Government to register their interest in accreditation under the Trusted Digital Identity Framework or to participate in the Digital Identity System.
By registering, businesses will be able to find out how the system might benefit their business and customers, how and when they can participate in the system, and how they can contribute to the governance and operation of the system.
Source: Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Media Release