The NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Victor Dominello, has announced plans to establish the first whole-of-government data analytics centre in Australia.
“Data is one of the greatest assets held by government, but when it’s buried away in bureaucracy it is of little value,” Dominello said.
“Whether it’s tackling crime, combating obesity or addressing housing affordability, we cannot hope to develop solutions to the long-term challenges that our state faces without an effective whole-of-government data sharing platform.”
The announcement was made at the University of Technology Sydney’s Data Arena.
Dominello said New Zealand, New York City and the State of Michigan have successfully used the lives of citizens through better targeted and more coordinated government service delivery.
A specialist government steering committee will advise on the establishment of the centre and an industry advisory body will assist in guiding its ongoing work. The centre will be hosted by the Department of Finance, Services and Innnovation.
The steering committee includes NSW Privacy Commissioner Dr Elizabeth Coombs, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Mary O’Kane, NSW Customer Service Commissioner Mike Pratt and NSW Information Commissioner Liz Tydd.
Chair of the Australian Information Industry Association Kee Wong said the NSW Government showed foresight in establishing a data analytics centre.
“As we mature into a knowledge based economy, the role of data and the ability to link data from multiple sources, supported by appropriate privacy and security, will drive more effective and innovative government as well as contribute to the competitiveness of the NSW economy,” Wong said.
The move is in line with the Digital+ 2014/15 update to the NSW Government’s ICT strategy, which takes as key principles open data, use of cloud and whole-of-government investment.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the centre would be hosted by the University of Technology Sydney’s Data Arena.
