Consultation on developing a whole-of-government innovation strategy for NSW will begin early next year, the state's innovation minister revealed today.
The state's minister for innovation and better regulation, Victor Dominello, made the announcement as part of the launch of Digital+ 2016, the final update to the NSW ICT strategy originally launched in 2012.
"Over the past four years, the government has pursued essential ICT reforms that have helped to provide better public services and value for citizens," Dominello said in a statement.
"The NSW ICT Strategy, released in 2012, has focused on key areas such as customer service, procurement reform, open data, transition to cloud, data centre consolidation and cyber security.
"The government is committed to a new approach that goes beyond the ICT Strategy and drives innovation across all areas of government policy. Consultation on a whole-of-government innovation policy will commence in early 2016.
"We must re-imagine the role of government in the digital age and as we move into a new phase of digital government, we will engage with industry, the research sector and the broader community to ensure NSW continues to be a leader in this field."
Dominello also revealed the appointment of a 'Digital Government Advisory Panel' to help drive ICT reform in NSW.
Members of the panel include Martin Stewart-Weeks, Marie Johnson, Dr Ian Reinecke, Greg Stone, Joanne Jacobs, Adrian Turner and Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. Stewart-Weeks will chair the panel.
"The Digital Government Advisory Panel (DGAP) will advise on emerging trends in the industry and research sector and ICT best practice; and – importantly, it will provide advice on a way forward for the delivery of digital government in NSW and help guide consultation on a new approach for digital service delivery in 2016," the minister said today in remarks prepared for the launch of the ICT strategy update.
"NSW government needs to work in partnership with industry in this rapidly changing environment – with the Internet of Things, with new citizen engagement tools, with changing demands on the privacy of personal information, and with cyber security," the minister said.
"We need to recognise that government doesn’t operate in isolation. The actions that we undertake as government to drive innovation in how the public sector works, has impacts in the broader community."
Dominello earlier this year announced the launch of the state government's Data Analytics Centre (DAC). The DAC will be a key plank in the government's innovation agenda, he said today.
The NSW government also recently announced that from mid-2016, it will start making licences available in a digital format.
The first digital licences to be issued will be the Recreational Fishing Fee, Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) Competency cards.