The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has today released its report on public sector information technology (IT) procurement and projects.
The Committee examined various large IT contracts over the course of the inquiry, including a visa processing system that was expanded to include other permit, licencing and registration processes; a system for managing parliamentary expenses; a system to evaluate suitable employment service providers; and a tool to enable administrators, service provider staff, employers and apprentices to exchange information in the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Scheme.
Committee Chair, the Hon Linda Burney MP, stated that 'the Committee's main findings were that capability, planning and management shortfalls in these external IT contracts invariably led to poor outcomes.'
The Committee has made three core recommendations:
- that the Department of Finance improves its guidance to other entities, including more effective information on developing IT procurement plans;
- that the Department of Finance and the Digital Transformation Agency continue to collaborate on providing guidance and policy documents for IT procurements and projects; and
- that both agencies provide progress updates to the Committee on improvements to IT procurement practices.
