Australian first initiative: Whole-of-Government Data Analytics Centre for NSW

In August 2015, NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP announced the NSW Government’s plan to establish a whole-of-government data analytics centre, the first of its kind in Australia.

The Data Sharing (Government Sector) Bill 2015 was approved by the NSW Parliament on the 18^th of November 2015, and will enable data sharing across government agencies and support the functioning of the NSW Data Analytics Centre (DAC).

“Data is one of the greatest assets held by government, but when it’s buried away in bureaucracy it is of very little value,” Minister Dominello said in August 2015, when he announced the Government’s plans to create the Data Analytics Centre.

“Whether it’s tackling crime, combatting obesity or addressing housing affordability, we cannot hope to develop solutions to the long-term challenges our state faces without an effective whole-of-government data sharing platform.”

While this is a first for Australia, data analytics has been used successfully in international jurisdictions including New Zealand, New York City and the State of Michigan to improve the lives of citizens through better targeted and more coordinated government service delivery.

The DAC is being developed within the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation, and work is already underway on the first of nine priority projects, to improve vocational education training courses in NSW by using data to better target the needs of business and to improve employment outcomes for job seekers.

“The bill gives the DAC greater teeth by enabling the Minster to, in certain circumstances, require NSW Government agencies and local councils to provide data to the DAC within 14 days,” Minister Dominello said after the bill was successfully approved in Parliament.

Former CSIRO Director of Digital Productivity Division, Dr Ian Opperman has been appointed as expert advisor to lead the development phase of DAC.

“Dr Opperman has over 20 years’ experience in the ICT sector holding senior management roles in Europe and Australia, and has a reputation for delivering outcomes,” Mr Dominello said.

Mr Kee Wong, Chair of the Australian Information Industry Association commended the NSW Government for its foresight in establishing the Australian first data 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,”

The Hon. Victor Dominello, NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation will be discussing the future of the Data Analytics Centre at Akolade’s Australian Government Data Summit, to be held at Rydges Capital Hill, Canberra, 22^nd – 24^th March 2016.

For further information on the programme or to confirm your place, please click here.

Mike Cullen has recently returned to Akolade after a period as the conference producer for one of Australia's leading economic think tanks. Mike began working in the conference industry in 2007 after looking for a career change from the high pressured world of inbound customer service. Mike has worked for some of the most well-known conference and media companies in the B2B space and in his spare time is working on his first novel in a planned Epic Fantasy trilogy.