Media Release

49/2009
13 August 2009

Government’s ICT Reform Agenda on Track

The Rudd Government’s ICT reform program is well underway with substantial savings already being achieved, Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner said today.

"In November 2008, the Government commenced the ICT Reform Program after we endorsed the recommendations resulting from Sir Peter Gershon’s independent review of the use and management of ICT,” Lindsay Tanner said.

"Savings of $569 million over the four years to 2012-13 were identified in the first phase of the reform program, including $109 million in the 2009-10 financial year.”

"With a second phase of reforms due to begin in 2010-11, progress towards our target of $1 billion in savings over the four years is on track.”

As part of the reform process, the Government has committed to reinvesting half of the savings made in initiatives designed to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ICT operations.

The first of that reinvestment will occur this financial year, with agencies currently putting submitting proposals on potential projects.

Lindsay Tanner said the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) is using extensive industry consultation to inform the reform agenda and had recently conducted a workshop with the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) to garner industry input on the progress and direction of the Government’s ICT reforms.

"In carrying out these reforms it is vital that the Government engages with industry and this workshop provided the opportunity for that to occur with representatives from a broad range of ICT businesses,” Lindsay Tanner said.

"The discussions that took place in the workshop were productive with a high degree of alignment between the cost savings initiatives suggested by industry and those identified by agencies as part of the ongoing ICT business-as-usual review.”

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