Digital strategy to transform nation
Scott Morrison will inject $1.2bn into transforming Australia into a leading digital economy by 2030 and overhaul the government’s online services platforms.
Scott Morrison will inject $1.2bn into transforming Australia into a leading digital economy by 2030 and overhaul the government’s online services platforms to ensure the nation remains globally competitive.
The Digital Economy Strategy, to be announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday ahead of next week’s budget, outlines a government push to accelerate uptake of digital technologies in a post-COVID world.
The strategy, which takes the government’s digital economy spend to $2bn, includes $124m to boost the country’s artificial intelligence capability, and establish a national AI centre led by the CSIRO.
More than $500m will be spent on enhancing the government’s myGov, MyHealth Record and digital identity system.
In a speech to the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne, Mr Morrison will say “one of our biggest challenges and opportunities turns on how we respond to the digital transformation occurring in every sector and every facet of our lives”.
“Every business in Australia is now a digital business. The tradesman or woman who seeks work through AirTasker, the landscaper who finds most of their new business through search engine placement and social media,” Mr Morrison will say.
“The farmer who keeps track of their herd with electronic tags or drones. The local Thai restaurant that sells through UberEats, MenuLog, Deliveroo or any one of half a dozen different food apps.
“This transformation is not merely a national one that needs to happen — it’s a global one that is happening. We must keep our foot on the digital accelerator to secure our economic recovery from COVID-19.”
As the main portal for Australians accessing government services online — supporting almost 20 million accounts — the new myGov will improve user-experience based on preferences and interactions. The new features, accessible via desktop computers and mobile apps and allowing users to view and manage upcoming payments and claims, is expected to benefit the economy by $3.6bn over 10-years through time saved.
My Health Record, which has 23 million registered users, will be updated to complement the vaccine rollout, allowing Australians to see coronavirus test results, immunisation status and alerts when vaccinations are due.
The digital economy push, which focuses on building the digital and cyber workforce, includes investment incentives encouraging business growth headlined by a digital games tax offset of 30 per cent to capitalise on the global $250bn game development market.
There is also a boost for small and medium businesses to drive the uptake of e-invoicing and $35.7m for drones and emerging aviation technologies.
The $1.67bn cyber security strategy delivered in last year’s budget will be bolstered with more than $50m.
An AlphaBeta report, commissioned by CSIRO, has estimated digital innovation could deliver $315bn in gross economic value to Australia over the next decade. Separate analysis by PwC said the digital revolution would create 250,000 new jobs by 2025.
Emerging technologies, including AI, Internet of Things, data analytics, blockchain and quantum computing, are a key focus of the strategy. The CSIRO Data61 roadmap says the benefits of AI could be worth $22.17 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
Josh Frydenberg said the strategy would allow Australian businesses to “capitalise on the opportunities that digital technologies are creating”.
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