The federal government has outlined at least $2.8 billion in planned investments in technology systems and policy development over the next four years, eclipsing last year’s $2 billion.
A number of agencies have emerged as big winners, perhaps none bigger than Services Australia which finally secured long-term funding for myGov.
As has become customary in our annual budget coverage, iTnews has itemised the list of funded projects contained in budget papers two and four, and listed them below in order of budgeted amount:
$580.3 million over four years, and $139.6 million a year after, for Services Australia to sustain and keep developing the myGov platform.
$448.7 million over 11 years to “establish Australia’s partnership with the United States on the next generation of the Landsat satellite earth observation program (Landsat Next)”.
$466.4 million in equity and loans to go to PsiQuantum to build a quantum computer in Queensland.
$288.1 million over four years to boost adoption of Digital ID.
$206.4 million over four years, and $7.2 million a year after, to “improve the data capability and cyber security” of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and “to continue the stabilisation of business registers and modernisation of legacy systems”.
$196.8 million over three years to support the delivery of the 2026 Census, “including ensuring safe collection and storage of Census data, activities to increase engagement and participation and facilitating access to the Census through myGov.”
$187.8 million over four years, and $11.1 million a year after, “to upgrade ICT and security at DFAT premises”.
$174.5 million over two years for ICT infrastructure in Aged Care that is “needed to implement the new Support at Home Program and Single Assessment System from July 1 2025.”
$161.3 million over four years to develop and implement a National Firearms Register.
$160.7 million over four years, and $24.6 million a year after, to upgrade the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s IT systems and improve cyber security, among other outcomes.
$145.4 million over two years from 2024–25 to maintain the National Measurement Institute’s core scientific measurement and ICT capabilities.
$83.9 million over two years “to boost fraud detecting IT systems at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)”.
$78.7 million for upgrades to ICT to enable the ATO “to identify and block suspicious activity in real time”.
$68.6 million over five years to increase resourcing for the digital services contact centre for people using Workforce Australia Online services.
$68 million for a range of First Nations digital inclusion programs, including $40 million “to roll out community wi-fi in remote communities”; $22 million for a “First Nations Digital Support Hub and a network of digital mentors to increase access to online services and improve digital literacy and online safety among First Nations people”; and $6 million “to improve national data collection on First Nations digital inclusion.”
$57.9 million over six years, and $3.8 million a year from 2029–30, for the Australian Bureau of Statistics “to continue to modernise legacy systems and operations for the Labour Force survey and Business Characteristics dataset.”
$57.4 million in 2024–25 to continue initiatives under the Health Delivery Modernisation Program and to update My Health Record.
$50 million for a pilot program to help mobile coverage on regional highways and major roads.
$50 million over four years, and $5.2 million a year after, “for enhancements to the myGov platform” stemming from the myGov user audit.
$43.2 million over five years to the federal communications department “to support the delivery of communications priorities, including responding to emerging and evolving online harms, boosting regional connectivity, digital inclusion and communications resilience”.
$39.9 million over five years to support the adoption and use of AI technology in a safe and responsible manner, including $21.6 million for a “reshaped National AI Centre”, and $2.6 million “to respond to and mitigate against national security risks related to AI.”
$37.3 million over four years in anti-scam funding for the ACCC, ASIC and ACMA “to administer and enforce mandatory industry codes for regulated businesses to address scams on their platforms and services, initially targeting telecommunications, banks and digital platforms services relating to social media, paid search engine advertising and direct messaging.”
$29.9 million over four years to “establish a simplified trade system unit to continue trade simplification coordination and deliver a Digital Trade Accelerator program to improve cross-border trade.”
$28 million over four years that covers “upgrades to Defence’s export permit ICT system”.
$23.3 million over four years for the Australian Taxation Office “to continue to oversee and operate the secure eInvoicing network”.
$22.4 million over four years to modernise parliamentary business technology systems.
$12.8 million over four years for the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) to “enhance IT to support business productivity and cyber security.”
$10.9 million over four years from 2024–25 to make “critical improvements” to Workforce Australia’s IT system
$10.9 million over two years to enhance the Go Global Toolkit online platform to support Australian businesses to export goods and services.
$10.6 million for implementing a reporting solution for the Australian Skills Guarantee, and for a business case to develop a modern ICT solution for Trades Recognition Australia to assess migrants’ skills.
$9.8 million over two years for “systems development” of the late-running Parliamentary Expenses Management System.
$8.4 million over two years “to pilot an ICT solution to improve case management and workflow management capabilities in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs”.
$7.5 million over four years, and $1.5 million a year after, to develop legislation and consumer protections around digital assets, to continue exploring central bank digital currencies, and to introduce new regulations for digital wallets and electronic stored value providers.
$6.5 million in 2024–25 for the pilot of age assurance technologies “to protect children from harmful online content”.
$4.2 million over four years, (and $900,000 a year ongoing) to establish a Technology Foreign Interference Taskforce “to work with Australia’s technology sector to protect sensitive and proprietary information from espionage, sabotage, and foreign interference”.
$4.1 million over three years for “ICT preparation work” for the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model for providers.
$3 million in 2024–25 for the Department of Education to develop a business case “for an appropriate IT system” to support higher education funding and governance reforms.
$2.6 million to implement changes to the Department of Education’s Provider Registration and International Student Management System “to improve integrity in the international education sector”.
$2.2 million in 2024–25 for Prime Minister & Cabinet for “projects to uplift capability across the Australian Public Service, including AI integration and enhancing the quality of data to inform policy analysis.”
$2 million in funding for mobile and internet connectivity along the train route between Hornsby and Wyong, north of Sydney.
$1.9 million in the next year to “conduct a data-matching pilot” between Home Affairs and the ATO “of income and employment data to mitigate exploitation of migrant workers and abuse of Australia’s labour market and migration system.”
$1.4 million over two years from 2024–25 for the Office of the eSafety Commissioner “to support legal and compliance functions under the Online Safety Act 2021“.
Unknown amount for the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network to “carry out consumer engagement activities to support NBN Co’s regulated Special Access Undertaking”. The amount is withheld “due to commercial sensitivities”.
Unknown amount covering improvements to Services Australia’s “cyber security environment” over the next three years.
Unknown amount from $25.3 million pot to upgrade the Payment Times Reporting Regulator’s ICT infrastructure.
In addition to IT-related items for federal departments and agencies, some funding is also distributed to states and territories for IT and digital-related works.
These include:
$50 million for a “TAFE Technology Fund, to improve workshops, laboratories, and IT facilities across the country.”
$9.3 million over two years to help states “transform and share biodiversity data with the new National Biodiversity Data Repository”.
$2.7 million “to support the delivery of digital connectivity uplift via the provision or enhancement of mobile connectivity to regional and remote communities of the Northern Territory through a one-off payment.”