NSW Government accused of wasting taxpayer money on IT program blowouts
COMPUTER program blowouts across State Government agencies have cost taxpayers almost $50 million. The costly software bonanza for IT fat cats has hit at least 11 agencies
NSW
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COMPUTER program blowouts across State Government agencies have cost taxpayers almost $50 million.
The costly software bonanza for IT fat cats has hit at least 11 agencies, from the firearms registry, ambulance and the environmental watchdog agency the EPA.
A detailed analysis of budget figures shows huge jumps in running computer systems, in many cases costing millions of dollars extra.
The IT blowouts come as the State Government appoints a new digital IT ‘tsar’, Greg Wells, who oversaw the bungled FACS IT program called “ChildStory”, itself the subject of multiple complaints and cost blowouts of $28 million, running almost 50 per cent over budget.
The most recent budget blow outs contained in budget papers include the Firearms Licencing Information Management Sydney jumping from $5 million to $7.1 million with a two year delay.
A “technology asset replacement” program in the Department of Finance has more than doubled from $14 million to $30 million.
The ambulance service’s “communication technology” program has blown out by $1 million from the initial outlay of $4.5 million.
And costs for a “Policing for Tomorrow Mobility” which includes new body worn video cameras, mobiles, tablet computers and scanners skyrocketed by an extra $7.9 million to a total of $71.2 million.
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The ALP’s Wastewatch Committee chairman Dr Hugh McDermott said the extra costs were a “waste of huge amounts of public money”.
“It seems to lack control over the very basics of financial management because it is
counting on being awash in revenue from stamp duty and its ever-growing range of tolls,” he said.
“These figures were buried in the Budget. It depends on no one looking at what they’re doing. This government tries to hide its waste and mismanagement at every turn.”
“This is revenue from ordinary families in NSW and instead of wasting it they should put it to use improving schools and hospitals.”
In response to questions about how the blowouts occurred, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said Coalition Government had been left with the job of “cleaning up Labor’s mess”.
“The Labor Party’s legacy when it comes to IT is the failed T-Card project, which cost the taxpayers of NSW $95 million, and the bungled LMBR reforms which this Government has had to fix,” he said.
“Labor’s record of mismanagement and project blowouts is still being felt today as we get on with the job of cleaning up Labor’s mess.
“Labor are Luddites stuck in the 18th century who wouldn’t know what IT stands for.
“In contrast, the NSW Liberals and Nationals are delivering a record level of reform and it is critical that our IT systems are state-of-the-art and fit-for-purpose in 2018 and beyond.”