Sometimes one hears something that stretches credulity, but the plans just announced by the NSW Commerce Department’s Office of the Chief Government Information Office truly “take the biscuit”!
A plan entitled People First – A new direction for ICT in NSW which is said to be the NSW Government ICT Strategic Plan was announced at 9.00am on Thursday 27th July 2006 by the NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca
It is said that this is “an innovative Government ICT Plan that sets the framework for a coordinated government-wide approach to planning, expenditure and allocation of ICT resources.
It represents a major change in ICT policy direction and will pave the way for a new and more effective way of service delivery for the NSW Government.
The Plan provides a strategic framework to make better use of technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services and systems, both within government and the wider community.
It will allow NSW Government Agencies to work together within a coordinated strategic framework to aggregate ICT initiatives to minimise costs and maximise the use of common applications, infrastructure and processes.
Savings will be redirected to key frontline services such as health, education, policing, disability services and information.”
The claims made in the body of the plan are that it: -
• Will be implemented over 4 years, commencing July 2006.
• Targets initiatives that are inevitable, which no one agency can do singularly, that are common and repeatable between agencies and which provide strategic value.
• Removes the technological barriers that inhibit both the reform of government and e-government initiatives.
• Results in savings of over half a billion dollars over four years.
The claim is made in the detailed document that the plan:
“Directs ICT savings to key front-line services such as health, education, policing, disability services, home and community care, transport and housing.”
Excellent one thinks – a bit more for the areas that need it. But read on. Then we find the following:
“ICT capital expenditure will be reduced by $350 million and recurrent ICT expenditure reduced by $215 million over four years.”
So not only is there no extra money for the front line – worse $565 million over four years is being pulled out the NSW Public Sector IT Budget.
If you believe this will provide improvements in health service delivery, the police and transport systems and so on – you are clearly a believer in the tooth fairy!
On the basis of what is written in this document the whole plan is nothing more than a money saving initiative wrapped up in a collection of pretty A3 charts.
What a pathetic farce!
David.
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