Cops get lucky with SA ICT budget
The South Australian Police Force has been the biggest winner in terms of technology handouts in the state's budget, which shirked large information and communications technology (ICT) spending.
The government announced last night that it would pour $106.3 million into recruiting an additional 300 police officers and equipping them with crime-fighting technology including handheld computers, portable fingerprint scanners and mobile automated number-plate recognition cameras.
The funds will also cover a trial of a GPS dart system, Star Chase, which is designed to minimise police pursuits.
Treasury will tip $18 million into e-procurement, a Taxation Revenue Management System and to fund an ICT refresh.
A further $7.8 million will be invested over four years for the creation and support of an IT system to manage domestic violence intervention orders.
ICT rationalisation in the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure will deliver savings of $12 million over three years from the introduction of projects to reduce the cost of providing technology services to government. The project will consolidate regional broadband services, voice services and increase operating efficiencies with core ICT equipment.
Government will also pocket $56.9 million over four years from reforms to health services including integrated finance and workforce functions and ICT consolidation.
Part of a $265 million government four-year spend will fund additional ICT resources in schools and the recruitment of some 125 ICT support staff.
SMH also reported that the South Australia Government will cut some 1762 jobs by 2014.