1. Change of Government
The change of government in September 2013 and the following Machinery of Government changes had significant implications for ICT and staff across the Federal government. We tracked how major changes and announcements would affect significant projects and ICT environments.
- Coalition’s Commission of Audit: major ICT impacts expected
- Coalition’s ICT Policy outlines major changes for agencies
- Inside the MOG changes at DSS
2. ICT emerges as a solution for Budget and staff cuts
2013 saw an increased focus on ICT in the public sector to enable continued service delivery in the face of staff cuts and tightening fiscal environments.
- Grantly Mailes: Opportunities for ICT industry as government budgets fall
- ICT solutions likely replacement for outgoing staff
- ICT roles feel the cold under APS job freeze
- Moving ICT procurement away from CapEx to OpEx is a key goal according to departing NSW GCIO Michael Coutts-Trotter
- Federal Govt ICT market down sharply in 2012-13
3. States establish 'continuously open' ICT panels
The year saw a concerted move away from traditional IT services panels with NSW, Queensland and Victoria all launching ‘continuously open’ arrangements that allow for the ongoing addition of new suppliers and have indefinite panel terms.
- Applications open for NSW ICT Services scheme
- Victorian eServices Register goes live 1 July
- Queensland opens applications for ICT Services Panel
4. Major ICT strategies reveal common agenda
New ICT strategies in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and NSW revealed a number of trends across Australian state governments, including preferences for cloud solutions, open data and share-before-build approaches to ICT.
- SA’s new ICT Strategy takes “share first” approach
- NSW Strategy update puts cloud procurement at the top of the agenda
- Failing projects cannot hide, warns Queensland IT Minister
- Victoria launches its first whole-of-government ICT Strategy
5. A cloudy year in government ICT
It was a big year for cloud, with the release of the NSW Cloud Policy, a number of approaches to market across the country for cloud-related services, and a positive end-of-year report card for the Federal Government’s cloud panel.
- NSW releases first Cloud Policy
- Is this Canberra’s biggest cloud deal to date?
- DCaaS a success as cloud market grows
- Community cloud coming to the Australian Government
- Queensland Government goes ‘cloud first’
6. Problems with the cloud begin to emerge
However, not everything was smooth sailing on the cloud front, and growing adoption of cloud solutions meant that 2013 also became the year when issues with the technology began to emerge.
- Public cloud security concerns yet to be resolved
- DSITIA’s cloudy outlook
- New cloud policy implements stricter approval requirements
7. 2013-14 budgets short on ICT
The ICT sector was short-changed in a number of jurisdictions, with Intermedium’s budget coverage revealing that Federal, Queensland and South Australia all handed down tight-fisted 2013-14 budgets.
- Budget 2013-14: Government writes ICT wish-list, leaves funding for next time
- QLD Budget ICT cupboard is bare...again
- SA Budget 2013-14: Why the ICT industry need not despair
8. Central shared services out of vogue
The move away from central shared services grew more pronounced with decisions to change the nature of CenITex in Victoria from a provider of ICT shared services to a broker of market-provided services. The Queensland Government indicated its intentions to divest ICT infrastructure provider CITEC and open the services currently provided by Queensland Shared Services to the market. The Western Australian Government continued with the full decommissioning of its central shared services office.
- CenITex transition process set to accelerate
- Queensland to abolish mandatory shared services
- Decommissioning shared services drives ERP business in WA
9. Public sector CIOs class of 2013
The CIO revolving door continued turning in 2013, with a number of public sector CIO changes. Intermedium also brought you nine new in-depth CIO interviews as part of our Get to know the CIO series, where we discuss everything from major agency projects to cloud computing and outsourcing policies.
- SA CIO Andrew Mills to become Queensland GCIO in 2014
- CIO changes at Industry and Attorney-General’s Department
- Health CIOs departing in NSW and South Australia
- Customs smuggles in new CIO & CTO, but sticks with same outsourcer
10. Major ICT tenders and contracts of the year
There were a number of major Approaches to the Market and in some instances were seen through to conclusion in high-value ICT contracts that were signed during the year.
- Victoria Police opens submissions for $340 million outsourcing bundle
- Accenture wins $40 million ATO deal
- DAFF opens bidding for $25 million telco opportunity
For more information, please contact the Editor (02) 9955 9896.