ACS wants Gershon savings put into ICT pilots

The peak body’s president, Kumar Parakala, claimed that part of driving a transformational agenda in the way the public sector uses ICT is to continue to invest in technology.

It has been reported that the government could save as much as $400 million per year by using ICT more efficiently.

And so begins the lobbying effort to try and influence how the newly formed Ministerial ICT Committee re-distributes these funds.

“It's essential these savings are responsibly reinvested in order to create the right kind of growth in our ICT and our overall economy,” said Parakala.

“We believe it is important that part of this reinvestment focuses on innovation, by allowing for pilot testing of new ICT systems to improve efficiency outcomes.

“This is a great opportunity for Government to foster innovation and create new business opportunities for ICT suppliers,” he said.

The move is a potential reaction to unrest in the IT industry – potentially among the ACS’ membership base – over the government’s decision to implement the Sir Peter Gershon’s recommendations in full.

One area expected to hit the industry hard is a 50 percent reduction in the number of contractors employed in the public sector by 2010.

Parakala seemed more concerned about cost-cutting in the private sector, however.

"In implementing these recommendations, we encourage corporate Australia and our industry to remain focused on improved efficiency rather than needlessly sacrificing ICT jobs,” said Parakala.

“We are concerned that radical cost-cutting from the private sector, based on a knee-jerk response to the current financial climate conditions, will only result in medium to long term pain for the overall economy.”