The Government's electronic service delivery goal was for all appropriate services to be on-line by 2001. One important service, in terms of public usefulness, is the facility to notify a change of address to all organisations, whether public sector, private sector or community, that hold it. In this context 'the public' could be either a person in their private capacity or any type of public or private sector organisation. Public usefulness is maximised when there is a 'one stop shop' through which the public can notify an address change to all organisations that hold it.

In October 2001 the State Contracts Control Board formed a contract with ChangeMyAddress Pty Ltd for NSW government agencies to use their on-line address changing service at www.changemyaddress.com.au Privacy issues are fully addressed in this contract. As address holders, agencies join this service by completing an Official Order to ChangeMyAddress Pty Ltd and pay a small fee for each changed address they receive. public accesses the service through the Internet (there is a link from the Government's homepage at www.nsw.gov.au ), they select the participating organisations they want their new address sent to and enter their address details once.

Maximum benefit to agencies is when changed addresses are received electronically from ChangeMyAddress Pty Ltd and electronically update address databases. However, in the short term while usage builds up, changed addresses can be re-keyed from hardcopy. This provides an improved service to the public and by replacing some phoned and mailed address changes is expected to improve data quality with some reduction of effort in agencies. A 'one stop shop' service offers a considerable improvement in service to the public.

Agencies holding addresses are to offer an on-line address changing facility as soon as possible. Such facilities must be part of a 'one stop shop' service that can be used by any address holding organisation. Target dates for offering on-line address changing are:

• Agencies holding more than 1,000,000 addresses 1 July 2002
• Agencies holding between 250,000 and 1,000,000 addresses 1 September 2002
• Agencies holding less than 250,000 addresses 1 January 2003

C. Gellatly
Director-General