Media Release
29 May 2008
Customers to benefit from smarter use of information and communication technology
The Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig, said today the Human Services Portfolio will be taking a whole-of-government approach to the examination of information and communication technology (ICT) requirements and sourcing options.
“The Australian Government remains committed to finding ways to maximise customer convenience and improve service options, while also delivering savings to the Government,” Senator Ludwig said.
“A key element of the Government’s service delivery reform strategy for Human Services involves taking a strategic portfolio approach to our ICT requirements and ICT procurement options.”
“The Human Services Portfolio agencies - including the big service delivery agencies Centrelink, Medicare Australia, Child Support Agency and CRS Australia – are collectively amongst the biggest users of ICT in both the government and private sector in Australia.”
“Our ICT investments underpin our service delivery operations to millions of Australians every day and the ICT investment decisions we will be making will shape our service delivery capabilities for years to come.”
“This Government is committed to building a modern service delivery system for Australia’s future.”
“We have a number of major contracts - including the Medicare Australia ICT services contract - which are due to expire over the next 12 to 24 months.
“The Government plans to take a proactive and more universal approach to the ICT requirements of the Human Services Portfolio and this may impact on the timing of approaches to the market for agency ICT services,” Senator Ludwig said.
Senator Ludwig added that this strategic approach to ICT in the Human Services Portfolio is in line with the broader whole-of-government approach that the Department of Human Services will take when it contributes to the Gershon Review of the Government’s use and management of ICT led by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation.
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