Govt releases 2025 Implementation Plan for data and digital strategy

The Australian Government has released the Data and Digital Government Strategy’s (the Strategy) 2025 Implementation Plan, the latest annual update of the innovation, reform, and service uplift across government.

It outlines the achievements delivered over the past year and sets out the key actions that support the Strategy’s 2030 vision. The Strategy is co-led by the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and the Department of Finance. 

The Implementation Plan focuses on four key priority areas: artificial intelligence (AI), data, connected service delivery, and cyber trust and resilience. 

The suite of policies, standards, and frameworks guiding the use of AI include the AI Plan for the APS, a policy for the responsible use of AI in government, an AI technical standard and the GovAI platform, which offers a central resource for agencies to access AI tools, guidance and learning materials. 

Key achievements against data targets highlighted in the 2025 Implementation Plan include a Data Maturity Assessment Tool, designed to help agencies measure and track their data maturity over time; a Data Governance Framework, a resource for all public servants to help build their data governance processes and capability; a Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022, to consider the effectiveness of the Act and whether it improves public sector data availability, sharing and transparency. 

The Digital Atlas of Australia was also highlighted - a central platform bringing together national data to help visualise, analyse and explore Australia’s geography, economy, people and environment data. 

On the connected service delivery front, the Digital Experience Policy and APS Experience Design Principles guide agencies to design services around real experiences that impact all Australians.

In the area of cyber trust and resilience, key initiatives such as the Cyber Security Strategy, Systems of Government Significance Standard and National Anti-Scam Centre are "enhancing safeguards for personal information and supporting safer online interactions".

The government said that over the coming year, it will continue to expand the responsible use of AI, enhance data integration and lift digital resilience across essential systems.

"This year’s Implementation Plan showcases how the government’s long-term digital vision is being delivered in practice,” said Chris Fechner, CEO of the DTA. 

“Across the public service, we are strengthening capabilities and improving the way we use data and technology. All this in pursuit of delivering services that are simpler, smarter, and easier for people to access while safeguarding their information.”