AU government scraps NOIE

AGIMO's focus is on "promoting and coordinating the use of new information and communications technology for delivery of Australian government programs and services," said federal IT and Communications Minister Daryl Williams.

The NOIE, established in 1997, has been at risk lately with Labor saying it would scrap NOIE's AU $140 million budget - including all associated programs and staff -- if it won government.

The office will be headed by the Australian government chief information officer, "a new position created to reflect the Government's determination to promote excellence in the way that ICT is used to develop and deliver Government policies, information, programs and services," Williams adds.

Williams said that under the new arrangements taking effect on April 8, the current funding for NOIE will be reallocated between the Department of Communications, Technology, Information and the Arts and the AGIMO and will continue to deliver all existing programs.

The current NOIE staff will also be allocated between the AGIMO and the Department on the basis of existing functions.

AGIMO will take control of IT and Internet projects applying across multiple agencies, and co-ordinate the use of IT within government. It will also provide strategic IT advice for government programs and services, and manage online initiatives.