The Tasmanian government has earmarked $28 million for the establishment of an ICT Project Fund. Funding for 2013-14, revealed in today's state budget, will total $4 million, with funding increasing annually up to $10 million in 2016-17.
"The Tasmanian Government has traditionally employed an agency based model for managing and planning most of its Information Communications Technology (ICT) projects," budget papers state.
"This model has suited government well in the past. However, the development of a more coordinated and strategic approach to key elements of ICT within government is required to meet a range of pressures."
The fund will be used for ICT projects of state significance. Funding will be allocated to government projects by an ICT Policy Board.
Projects listed as potential recipients of the funds include the Budget Information Management System, an integrated government contact centre project, state revenue systems, the Criminal Justice Information Management System, a student management system replacement and the emergency dispatch system.
The Criminal Justice Information Management System is to receive $573 000 per annum funding for operational from 2015-16 in separate funding for creating a document repository.
The project to implement a whole-of-government integrated contact centre received $1.2 million in the 2013-14 budget and is scheduled to receive $1.1 million in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and a further $1 million in 2016-17. The aim is to prevent duplication across multiple contact centres, improve service and reduce costs.
A replacement program for government IT infrastructure has been brought forward to the 2013-14 budget due to the government's transition to VoIP and decommissioning of its legacy phone system. In July last year the Tasmanian government awarded a contract to MyNetFone to provide VoIP services.