Public Service Watch: Science, IT, Innovation and Arts portfolio

Details about confirmed and rumoured cuts from within the portfolio of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Minister Ros Bates.

Cuts already confirmed by government

Printer settings, $1.8 million:
IT Minister Ros Bates on July 18 said the government’s ICT audit had called for changes to whole-of-government printing policy, including setting all machines to print in black and white, double-sided at draft quality by default. A senior level officer in each department “would be assigned to manage and coordinate print services, including budget and consolidating print-related purchases”. Ms Bates said the changes could save the government $1.8 million a year.

Email program:
IT Minister Ros Bates on June 29 announced the scrapping of the Identity, Directory and Email Services (IDES) program, a project which was to deliver a centralised email, identity management and authentication service for the Queensland government. She said take-up had been low and a further investment of $25 million over the next three years would have been required to make it viable. Ms Bates said the government would “explore other options including a potential cloud-based whole-of-government email solution”.

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Cuts in other portfolios

• Premier's portfolio
• State Development, Infrastructure and Planning portfolio
• Treasury and Trade portfolio
• Health portfolio
• Education, Training and Employment portfolio
• Police and Community Safety portfolio
• Attorney-General and Justice portfolio
• Transport and Main Roads portfolio
• Housing and Public Works
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio
• Environment and Heritage Protection portfolio
• Natural Resources and Mines portfolio
• Energy and Water Supply portfolio
• Local Government portfolio
• Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services portfolio
• Science, IT, Innovation and Arts portfolio
• National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing portfolio
• Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games portfolio
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs portfolio