No IT boon in NSW budget

Technology appears to be off the NSW Government's spending radar in 2013-14, with the state budget instead placing a heavy focus on roads, rail and civil infrastructure.

The Government revealed a state deficit of $329 million across the period, down from a previous forecast of $423 million.

It still expects to achieve a surplus in the 2014/15 budget but it will be less than anticipated: $829 million instead of $1.3 billion.

The NSW Police Force and Department of Finance and Services came out on top in terms of technology spend, with funding for a handful of new projects.

Technology projects form the majority of new works at the NSW Police Force, with all new projects to cost $31.2 million. Total allocated budget for IT projects includes:

• $9.9 million for phase 6 of a radio communications maintenance program, to be completed next year.
• $9.8 million this year for the third phase of a technical migration of its COPS system, to be completed by 2016 at a cost of $44.8 million.
• $2.5 million for a voice infrastructure migration and data network upgrade by 2017, at an overall cost of $20.5 million.
• $1.1 million for a new digital storage solution in its Parramatta office to be completed by 2016 (total cost of $2.9 million).
• $639,000 for a PhotoTrac Composite ID system to be completed next year.
• $578,000 for a government information access application management system, to be completed in 2015 at a total cost of $746,000.

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance and Services will receive:

• $6.5 million this year towards a Sydney data centre consolidation acceleration program, due for completion in 2017 and at a total cost of $9.9 million.
• $5.8 million for a ServiceFirst technology upgrade, due to wrap up in 2015.
• $4.5 million for an electronic data processing improvement program, for completion next year
• $3 million for a core upgrade to the government radio network by next year.
• $3 million for a whole of government identity management system, to be completed next year.
• $1 million to consolidate the Sydney-based ServiceFirst telephony infrastructure by 2015 (total cost of $1.8 million).

Other IT projects

Several other agencies received funds for a range of specified and unspecified IT projects.

The Attorney-General Justice Department will receive $3.4 million for an electronic indictments system that is due for completion next year.

The State Emergency Fire Service will replace major communications equipment at a cost of $31 million by 2018. It has been allocated $3.3 million in this year’s budget.

A new SAP financial system is looking for the NSW Trustee and Guardian Department. It has until 2017 to implement the system, and has $2.5 million (of a total $3.4 million) budgeted for this year.

Other notable IT spending in 2013-14 includes:

• $3.2 million to the Environment Protection Agency to enhance its regulatory and communications system.
• $2 million for an electronic document and records management system at NSW Treasury.
• $1.9 million to the NSW Electoral Commission to upgrade its electoral systems.
• $1.8 million for unspecified IT upgrades at the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
• $1.2 million to the Public Service Commission for human capital management information systems.
• $1 million for Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust to upgrade its IT and phone systems.