Govt to revamp Digital Transformation Office

The Turnbull government has announced a wide-ranging revamp of its digital transformation agenda, with plans to transform the Digital Transformation Office into a new digital agency responsible for government ICT policy and procurement functions.

The new Digital Transformation Agency will take over responsibility for ICT policy from the Department of Finance and centralise the management of major government ICT projects, in addition to overseeing the government’s digital transformation agenda.

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor announced the government’s new digital plans at a National Press Club event in Canberra earlier today.

“We are more mobile, more connected and more digitally reliant than ever before. Government needs to consistently challenge itself, to ensure world-leading practices are being employed to make Australians’ lives simpler,” Taylor said.

“As more government services are digitised, integration across agencies is paramount to delivering world’s best practice. Importantly, the new agency will comprise a small high-calibre program management office to manage strategy and manage integration of the digital transformation agenda across all of government.”

Taylor also announced the appointment of an interim CEO for the new agency, Nerida O’Loughlin, currently deputy secretary for content, arts and strategy at the Ministry of Communications. The agency’s chief digital officer role will be filled by the DTO’s current CEO Paul Shetler.

Pictured: Paul Shetler.