WA's GovNext-ICT program needs oversight

The Western Australian government has been urged to establish a properly resourced body to oversee the GovNext-ICT transformation program, which could involve contracts with a potential value of $3 billion.

A parliamentary committee report into improving outcomes from ICT investments, entitled ‘Doing ICT Better’, notes that a body should be established to ensure all commercial arrangements related to the program are properly managed.

This role could be the responsibility of the proposed GovNext-ICT Service Broker or a similar body, and should be established under the Western Australia Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (WAGCIO).

The committee has also recommended that the WAGCIO should consider adopting a model similar to the New Zealand government CIO’s Commercial Strategy and Delivery Team.

The WAGCIO’s establishment in 2015 was a “pivotal development” in the government’s efforts to improve the planning and management of its ICT requirement, the report notes. It recommends that the state’s Minister for Innovation confirm that the WAGCIO will continue operating beyond FY18.

The report also recommends the WAGCIO investigate the viability of adopting an omnichannel approach to service delivery modelled after Service NSW.

Other recommendations include requiring agencies to adopt a cloud first approach when contemplating future ICT investments, establishing KPIs focused on the quality of services offered as a result of investments and having the WAGCIO and Department of Finance conduct annual agency benchmarking surveys.