The digital government evolution down under
Author: Jack Story
As a digital economy, Australia is already a recognised leader. The country is highly connected, most of its citizens have smartphones, and most households and businesses have internet connectivity. Investment in tech start-ups is growing significantly, as is innovation in technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the internet of things (IoT), driverless cars and more. It is fitting, then, that the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia would increase its infusion of digital into every facet of its services, institutions and regulatory processes.
How Australia can enable its success as a citizen of the emerging digital planet.
Establishing a fully digital government, however, is a long journey that’s fraught with technological, cultural, fiscal, legislative, regulatory and political barriers. To get there, it requires a multi-year commitment, public-private partnerships and political will — all underscored by a customer- and data-centric strategy.
Australia’s digital prowess is well documented. Nearly 90 percent of households in the country are connected to the internet. Nine in 10 adults actively use the internet, and almost all Australian businesses are connected. More than 80 per cent of Australians have smartphones. Australia ranks third in a list of countries (behind only the United States and Canada) as a rapid adopter of digital technology, and when the size of its economy is taken into account, Australians have embraced technology faster than people in Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The Australian Government has been pursuing digitisation for some time. Like many governments embarking on digital transformations, Australia has had its share of bumps and bruises.
All too often, enterprises — whether in the private or public sector — have focused on how they’ll embark on technology-driven transformation. But the focus always should be on why. Why is digital government important? Why should Australia, or any other country for that matter, shift to a digital government? Answer: to deliver faster, less expensive services that meet citizens’ and businesses’ needs and expectations while also creating an opportunity to improve policy effectiveness and efficiencies.