Aust Finance dept signs IT support deal

Australian-owned Volante said the deal -- which comes into effect from November -- was the fourth managed services contract secured with the Commonwealth government since early last year.

In March 2003, Volante secured a three-year, AU$9.4 milion deal to provide on-site information technology support for electoral offices throughout Australia. Earlier this year, the company secured a four-year, AU$16 million outsourcing contract from the Department of Transport and Regional Services. In June, the company secured a five-year extension to an existing contract to supply services to Group 8 Commonwealth government agencies.

Volante's chief operating officer, Hugh Bickerstaff, claimed the Finance deal "confirms our ability to compete successfully in a market that historically been dominated by multinmational groups".