Government for the future

By 2030, the Australian Government will use data and digital technologies in innovative ways.

Consultations on the initial Strategy demonstrated support for improving service delivery by using emerging technologies, in a safe and responsible manner. Stakeholders recognised the need for the Government to explore new ways to invest in data and digital technologies to achieve the Strategy’s vision.

The Government will take advantage of opportunities, respond to emerging priorities and promote new funding models to deliver secure, ethical and modern data and digital technologies.

Adopt emerging technologies

The rapid development of data and digital technologies creates significant opportunities to improve APS processes. They also create risks, and ethical and strategic challenges. Without appropriate human oversight, reliance on technology can cause issues, and impact government policies and services. The APS must monitor and actively manage opportunities, risks and impacts of emerging technologies it chooses to use.

The Government will be transparent in how it explores and uses new technologies. It will also equip entities to safely engage with emerging data and digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and digital twins, as part of their operations, including releasing guidance for entities on government use of generative AI platforms. The Government will work closely with industry to develop digital solutions and leverage the best of industry innovation to solve common problems. New technologies will be deployed in a safe and responsible manner, supported by best practice processes and advice functions.

One example is the List of Critical Technologies in the National Interest, which outlines the technologies that can impact Australia’s national interest. This list supports entities to engage appropriately with critical technology fields, including AI, advanced ICT and quantum technologies.

The Government will continue to use its procurement profile (approximately $9 billion per annum) to better position entities to adopt critical and emerging technologies whilst contributing to the broader digital economy and supporting Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy. Investments in research and development will continue to support the growth of government capability in critical technologies, ensuring they remain contemporary while boosting activity in the broader economy. Building APS data and digital capability complements these efforts, including work in areas such as skills, support for research and development and targeted industry support programs.

Modernise investment approaches

Increasing the Government’s use of new and emerging data and digital technologies requires smart and sustainable investments.

The Government will explore new data and digital funding models and strengthen oversight and contestability during development and implementation. It will increase cross-agency collaboration, assurance, benefits management, prototyping and experimentation practices. This will enable phased delivery to provide opportunities for new ideas and feedback to inform project changes mid-flight. Allowing entities to explore interoperability with other APS platforms and adjustments and improvements to systems will minimise the impact of technical debt and reduce the risk of technology becoming obsolete once operational.

The Government is committed to finding new ways to ensure decision makers have the right information and advice when considering new data and digital investments for the APS. The Government will strengthen data and digital investment advice and governance in the APS, including through the Digital and ICT Oversight Framework (IOF), to inform consideration of investment proposals and assurance of projects.

The Government will use its data and digital investments to support its broad national policy objectives and deliver better outcomes for people and business. This includes a focus on the achievement of value for money as required by the Commonwealth Procurement Framework. Value for money is not simply a consideration of price, it includes consideration of quality, fit-for-purpose, a supplier’s experience and performance, and environmental sustainability amongst other things. The Government’s Buy Australian Plan includes a commitment to boosting the procurement and contracting capability of the APS to better engage with industry, including Australian businesses, and deliver value-for-money procurements.

BuyICT.gov.au provides a direct platform for industry to showcase products and services, bid for projects and find government clients. It allows Government entities and businesses to partner to develop innovative solutions to problems and help build industry capability.

Better data and digital investments can also support progress towards the Government’s Net Zero 2050 plan. The Data Centre Panel will support the Government’s move towards net zero by strengthening the measures for data centre providers to manage and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.