Following the earlier announcement to create a Digital Transformation Office, it now has a formal budget as last night the Treasurer directed more than $250m to the creation of the programme. The aim of the initiative is to recast Government service delivery digitally. The DTO will be responsible for digital service delivery across government. The DTO will lead and coordinate the government’s digital transformation and will work with government agencies as they invest in the technology that will underpin digital services. The DTO will not just be about user friendly websites. The DTO has been established to deliver digital by default and to make services simpler. The DTO will act as a digital champion across government and help agencies with limited digital expertise realise the benefits of digital government. Government agencies will retain responsibility for ICT investment decisions that do not relate to citizen focused digital service delivery. A recently released schematic tells the story.
The budget included funding of $95.3 million has been allocated to establish the DTO as a standalone agency from 1 July and $159.3 million will be used to deliver phase one of the Digital Transformation Agenda. This involves progressing work in five key areas:
- The Digital Service Standard outlines a digital by design approach to government services. The standard will ensure that all new and redesigned services are designed consistently and will be simpler and easier to use.
- The Trusted Digital Identity Framework will give users choice and control if they choose to establish a digital identity. The use of digital identities will improve access to services, new products and markets for consumers and industry.
- New and improved services for individuals that will improve the quality of online interactions with government. They include a Tell Us Once capability to update your personal details once across government, enhancements to the digital inbox through myGov, and a new voice identification service for identity.
- Businesses will also receive new and improved services, including Tell Us Once for businesses and a new digital mailbox, which will be accessed with a wider range of credentials.
- The Better Grants Administration initiative will streamline the administration of grants and reduce work for grants applicants. Two grants administration hubs will be developed, savings applicants and recipients time and money by enabling them to discover, register, and prequalify for grants that match their profile.
They plan to engage with individuals and businesses, and state and territory and local governments as work on the agenda moves into full gear.
