The New South Wales Government is strongly committed to improving the public sector management of its information and technology resources. To this end a whole of government approach is now being taken to ensure the use of information and technology improves overall government service provision, provides equity of service access and results in better value for the Government's information and technology investment.

Cabinet has recently endorsed a strategic framework for the use of information management and technology. This framework is embodied in the Information Management and Technology Blueprintfor NSW -A Well-connected Future (the Blueprint).

Cabinet has agreed that the Blueprint should represent the definitive strategy for ensuring all the govemment's information and technology resources are managed to optimise their benefit to the State.

The Blueprint is applicable to all government agencies including government trading enterprises and state owned corporations.

All government agencies must adopt the Blueprint strategies and work co-operatively with each other in order to achieve the Government's objectives. Equally as important is the active support and involvement of chief executive officers in ensuring that individual agency information and technology strategies align with overall Government objectives.

One of the Government's key initiatives is the establishment of a Government Information Management Board to oversee the strategic use of information and technology, improve cost effective application and ensure agency accountability.

Following approval by the Cabinet, the Board met for the first time in December 1996. It comprises key representatives from the public and private sectors. The Board reports directly to the Minister for Public Works and Services. A copy of the Board's Role and Charter is attached.

The Board will monitor agency compliance with the strategies contained in the Blueprint as well as policies, guidelines, standards and complementary strategies that are developed in support of the Blueprint.

To enable the Board to understand individual agency information and technology directions and environments, all government agencies are requested to forward to the Chairman of the Government Information Management Board, care of the Department of Public Works and Services, a copy of their current information and technology strategic plan by the 30 June 1997.

Budget sector agencies will be required to submit significant information and technology project proposals to the Board for endorsement prior to gaining Budget Committee support for funding.

The Board will initiate a process to monitor and review the realisation of identified benefits for significant projects.

State Owned Corporations and Government Trading Enterprises (GTE), will be bound to respond to requests by the Board on matters where it is providing advice to the Minister for Public Works and Services. The Minister will then advise voting shareholder Ministers or those Ministers responsible for the GTEs respectively.

Ministers should ensure all organisations under their administration receive a copy, of this memorandum and adopt a rigorous approach to meeting the Blueprint's vision to ensure their information management and technology' strategies and investments align with the Government's desired policy outcomes. These organisations must also actively explore avenues that will allow them to share information and resources, eliminate duplicated common functions and deliver services through shared points of access to the government.

A copy. of the Information Management and Technology Blueprint for NSW - A Well-connected Future is attached to this memorandum. An electronic copy of the Blueprint may also be viewed and downloaded from the NSW Government's Internet site at http://www.nsw.gov.au. Printed copies are available from the Department of Public Works and Services' Government Information Management Division (tel: 9372 7290; fax: 9372 7299).

Bob Carr
Premier