The Gillard government’s treasurer, Wayne Swan, has indicated in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) that there will be a 20 per cent cut in capital expenditure for government agencies with IT projects worth less than $10 million under the knife.
Some $8 billion worth of additional data centre facilities will be needed if Australia is going to have a sustainable IT economy in the future, according to analyst firm IDC Australia
The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) has outlined potential plans to consolidate the number of ICT services panels across the Federal Government from 87 to four through a proposed whole-of-government ICT services panel.
Despite recommendations outlined in the 2008 Gershon report to cut back on ICT spending, the Federal Government’s ICT market peaked at $5 billion in 2008-09, with recently released data indicating it has returned to normal levels in 2009-10.
The Attorney-General’s Department has mandated eligible Federal Government agencies provide software developers and independent software vendors with first rights to intellectual property (IP) for software developed under contract from 1 October.