The NSW Government launched its ICT Strategy 2012 on 4 May 2012. A key priority of the NSW Government ICT Strategy 2012 is a commitment to Open Government. This memorandum advises Ministers of the Government’s commitment to a new era of open government.

The NSW Government is committed to the open government principles of transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation.

The NSW Government will be:

• Open in our work for the people of NSW
• Open to participation in the policy process
• Open to collaboration on how we do business

To do this, the NSW Government will enhance:

• Online access to government services to make them available anywhere, anytime
• Online communications, including social networks, for internal and public dialogue
• Online mechanisms for community and industry collaboration on innovative solutions

Government faces many challenges and it makes sense to collaborate with our community, industry and research partners to deliver better quality and more convenient services for our customers. We can work well together if we share information and make it easier for NSW citizens to have their say as policies are developed.

An open approach also benefits the public service. Agencies need to know what is happening across government so that ideas can be shared and duplication reduced.

The NSW Government ICT Strategy 2012 outlines actions to get started on an open, online approach to quality services through better investment in information and communications technology.

Ministers and Directors-General have specific responsibilities for supporting Open Government in New South Wales. Ministers should ensure that all agencies within their administration are aware of the contents of this Memorandum.

Under the NSW Government ICT Strategy 2012, each Director-General is required to report to the ICT Board by December 2012 with a plan to:

• Identify priority datasets for publication at data.nsw.gov.au
• Increase open access information available at publications.nsw.gov.au
• Facilitate public participation in the policy development process
• Make greater use of social media to communicate with staff, customers and industry
• Increase online access to government services
• Collaborate with community, industry and research partners to co-design service solutions

The three key Open Government initiatives outlined in the Strategy are:

• Implementing a whole of government policy that supports the use of social media for enhanced public engagement and service delivery
• Expanding and promoting Publications NSW as the default and easily searchable repository for published Government information
• Developing best practice guidelines for the design of government websites, and applications for smartphones and tablets to make government information available in a way that suits the customer.

Progress on delivering open, online government will be reported publicly with stories of best practice that showcase the NSW Government’s commitment to transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation.

State Owned Corporations are encouraged to adopt the open government principles of transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation.

Guidance on development of Open Government Plans is available at the ICT Strategy website.

Barry O’Farrell MP
Premier