NSW, NT governments call for expert IT advice

Both the New South Wales and Northern Territory governments are after advice and industry input on how to best approach government IT.

The NSW government is after more members to join its IT advisory panel and the procurement industry advisory group.

Expressions of interest are now open, and industry experts that do join will be required to lead and advise on the NSW government's procurement reforms, Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet said.

"We are looking for the brightest and sharpest industry minds to help lead and deliver our customer-focused reform agenda," he said.

"ICT is a catalyst for change within government, and in recent years the ICT advisory panel has advised on information management, security and privacy, and data sharing."

Perrottet added that the procurement industry advisory group is "reshaping the relationship" between the government and suppliers.

"The group provides a private sector perspective on approaches to government procurement and already a great deal has been accomplished, particularly in developing a framework for agencies to engage with the market in an innovative and transparent way," he said.

Taking up a position on either panel will require 12-month commitments from individuals, said Perrottet.

He also added that the members in 2015 will look at ways on how to best engage micro-businesses, regional businesses, and new business startups.

So far, the NSW IT advisory panel consists of 10 members in total, whose appointments were effective from April 1, 2014, for a period of 12 months. These individuals include Australian Computer Society vice president Anthony Wong; Google ANZ head of geospatial Paul Cousins; Energetica CEO Lisa Harvey; Microsoft chair professor in innovation in computing at Macquarie University, Vijay Varadharajan; Centre for Digital Business managing director and chief digital officer Marie Johnson; Fujitsu business applications solutions group executive director Les Davey; Deutsche Bank executive John Baird; AMP CIO Lee Barnett; Recordkeeping Innovation director Barbara Reed; and Ovum research director for public sector technology Steve Hodgkinson.

The closing date for expressions of interest for both the IT advisory panel and procurement industry advisory group is November 14, 2014.

Both the IT advisory panel and the procurement industry advisory group have been formed as part of the NSW government's IT strategy, which has been designed to drive better services in the state.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory government is establishing an information, communications, and technology advisory council that will provide feedback to the government on barriers to local industry development, and advise ways in which the government can be more strategic in its dealings with this industry. It will also look at possible ideas for increasing local content in IT contracts, and ways that emerging technologies could be used to improve efficiency in government.

"Members of the council will give technical advice on appropriate industry service standards and performance measures to ensure we get the best value for money from our contracted services," said Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Adam Giles.

"We want to do this work in partnership with the industry, and have invited a high-profile group of industry representatives to sit on the council."