2006 e-Government Strategy, Responsive Government: A New Service Agenda
4 Implementing the strategy
4.1 Using innovative technology
The government will continue to be an informed user of new and emerging technologies.
4.1.1 Exploit emerging mobile technology
Mobile devices are one technology with a sufficient level of maturity and immediate potential application. Close to 75 per cent of people in Australia have a mobile phone or other wireless device, and around the same number have access to personal computers (The Current State of Play November 2005 and Information Economy Index 2004, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts).
AGIMO will work with government agencies to identify best practice applications of mobile technologies from a whole of government perspective, including areas such as emergency response and law enforcement, education, health care and teleworking opportunities.
4.1.2 Smart cards
The term ‘smart card’ has been used to describe a class of credit card-sized chip devices with varying capabilities such as stored-value cards, contact-less cards and integrated circuit cards (ICC). These differ in functionality, both from each other and from the more familiar magnetic-stripe cards. The ICC (more commonly known as the ‘chip card’ or ‘smart card’) provides a toolbox of enhanced capabilities for functions such as access control, payment, information storage, management tools and multiple applications. Smart card technology will allow people to access multiple government services more securely, either in-person or online, essentially by providing them with their own miniature computer.
The Australian Government, through AGIMO, is developing a smart cards framework for how government agencies can use smart card technology. The primary objectives are to assist Australian Government agencies who want to implement multi‑application smart card technology and ensure interoperability through agreed standards.
Establishing an interoperable multi-application smart card environment across the Australian public sector requires agencies to support and commit to the following principles:
- interoperability
- open government system framework
- open standards
- choice and flexibility.
The framework will be part of the blueprint for connected government, discussed in section 3.2, and in more detail in Appendix A.
The states and territories will be consulted through the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers Committee of the Online and Communications Council to ensure smart card interoperability across all levels of government.
4.1.3 Develop existing innovative infrastructure
The government will develop and extend its existing substantial investment in innovative technology and infrastructure that supports connected government. For example, FedLink is a system that allows for transactions to be conducted and information exchanged over the Internet in a way that is secure and protects privacy. The government is committed to enhancing this infrastructure through tools such as those that attach and recognise email security classifications.
4.1.4 Assess other emerging innovative technology
The Australian Government will continue to monitor emerging technologies and their implementation within government, such as has already occurred with voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and natural speech recognition technology. The whole of government opportunities (and risks) these technologies present will be identified, and their potential will be harvested as they move into mainstream practice.
The principles that will underpin the government’s approach to technology are:
- technology change will be incremental rather than revolutionary, yet the net effect of these increments will enable far-reaching changes for agencies
- information technology will become ubiquitous, with mobile connectivity widely available, and intelligence embedded in almost all objects
- as the information technology industry becomes increasingly standardised and new technologies become commodities, web services will be a common feature of all business systems, leading to them becoming interoperable
- consistent implementation of open standards by agencies will be essential to realise the potential of standardised and commoditised web services
- new technologies will need a level of demonstrated maturity for widespread adoption in government
- government will continually assess all emerging technologies for their potential whole of government application to electronic service delivery.
4.2 Partnering with industry
The government will maintain an effective dialogue with industry. This will keep industry informed of progress towards the government’s vision for 2010. Government will also draw on industry expertise through a series of regular industry forums, by including industry in public sector forums for departments and agencies, and through industry consultation on procurement plans outlined in section 3.4.3.
The government will explore with industry the potential for providing access to government’s common, standardised, modular business processes (discussed in sections 3.2 and 3.3.3), so that industry can be better informed of emerging government system and technology requirements. Increasingly, industry will be able to meet the standardised business requirements of government in off-the-shelf product offerings.
The government will develop a set of model contracts to replace the existing Government Information Technology Contract (GITC) arrangements. These new model contracts will be developed to apply to a range of information technology procurement circumstances, and will be more targeted than the existing GITC arrangements. The government is also implementing new arrangements to cap liability in the majority of ICT contracts and to encourage commercial use and exploitation of intellectual property (IP) from government procurement.
4.3 Managing the vision
4.3.1 Governance structures
The government will maintain and strengthen its existing ICT governance structures, through which its agencies are able to collaborate in the implementation of this strategy, and participate in joint decision-making. AGIMO has overall coordination responsibility for the use of ICT within government. AGIMO reports to the Special Minister of State.
AGIMO is supported by, and supports, the Information Management Strategy Committee (IMSC), the Chief Information Officer Committee (CIOC), the Cross Jurisdictional Chief Information Officer Committee (CJCIOC), and the Online and Communications Council (OCC). These whole of government forums have been central to progress to date, and the government remains committed to them. They ensure that ICT-related decisions reflect the impact and benefits across government rather than just on individual agencies, and that there is collaboration with the states and territories on the implementation of this Australian Government strategy.
4.3.2 International context
The government is committed to working collaboratively with other countries to share experiences in the design and implementation of electronic service delivery, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Australia is a strong supporter of the e-government project at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and participates in a range of other relevant multilateral forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Australia also nurtures bilateral cooperation with comparable countries whose experiences most closely parallel our own.
4.4 Measuring the impact
4.4.1 Develop a set of service delivery metrics
In implementing its vision, the government will build on previous achievements in measuring and tracking progress.
The government will develop service delivery metrics based on the strategic priorities in this strategy, namely:
- user satisfaction levels
- the level of connected government
- value for money
- improvements in public sector capability.
The metrics will be designed to guide progress towards the vision, as well as function as a reporting and accountability tool.
Contact for information on this page: estrategy@finance.gov.au