NOIE disbanded

The National Office of Information Economy will close and its current funding and programs will be redirected, the Government announced today.

Amidst political and media speculation about NOIE's future, Federal IT minister Daryl Williams announced that NOIE's functions and programs will be transferred to the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts (DCITA). An Office for the Information Economy will be set up within the Government, and will take over ICT related issues such as the National Broadband Strategy, spam, and the Government's Backing Australia's Ability program.

The Government also announced the creation of an Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) to focus on 'promoting and coordinating the use of new information and communications technology to the delivery of Australian Government programs and services.'

AGIMO will be headed by the Australian Government chief information officer, a newly created position which will be advertised shortly.

In the interim, John Grant, the current CEO of NOIE, will operate as acting head of AGIMO.

AGIMO will provide Government with:

• Management of projects relating to ICT and the internet which affect the whole-of-Government or multiple agencies;

• Strategic advice on the key factors underpinning the application of ICT to the design of Government programs and the delivery of Government services;

• Leadership in relation to the Government's presence online and electronic based service delivery; and

• Coordination of the application of ICT to Government administration, information and service provision.

NOIE's current funding will stop from 8 April and be reallocated between the Department and AGIMO. Both agencies will continue to receive funding to deliver all existing programs.

Whether there will be staff cuts is unclear at this stage; however current NOIE staff will also be allocated between AGIMO and the Department 'on the basis of existing functions'.

Williams said the new arrangements reflect 'NOIE's success in raising awareness of the importance of the information economy to Australia's broader economic growth'.
'With information economy issues now having a well established profile, it is an appropriate time to integrate those functions of NOIE that complement the Department's responsibilities and activities.'