What you said about plans to overhaul Qld public service technology

Queensland’s public service is under the gun, with many across the state insisting it’s about time. HAVE YOUR SAY

Queensland’s public service is under the gun, with many across the state insisting it’s about time.

The Australian Information Industry Association called on the next Queensland government to undertake a full audit and update old technology, claiming the state’s public servants get less work done due to ancient computer systems.

The peak body, which represents those employed in Australia’s technology sector, urged the state government to focus on improving its digital tools ahead of the upcoming election in October.

It also recommended an efficiency audit of the Queensland government’s services offered to citizens.

AIIA chief executive Simon Bush said in the last two terms, the Queensland government has not shown interest in the digital economy.

“The elected Queensland government needs to prioritise digital service delivery for its citizens and have a clear strategy and investment road map, and obviously with the matching jobs and skills agenda to support that,” Mr Bush said.

Digital Services Minister Bart Mellish

Griffith University technology expert David Tuffley said the majority of Queensland’s public service departments are using decade-old legacy systems.

“The short answer is yes. They definitely would need to upgrade. And so the situation that almost certainly exists today in the public service is they will have a whole lot of legacy systems.

Queensland Digital Services Minister Bart Mellish said the government would continue to invest in the technology, systems and digital services that will benefit Queenslanders through our $200 million Queensland Digital Economy Strategy.

However many readers claimed the issue highlights a wider problem.

Some insisted the public service remains too large; others said they are out of touch.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Slash and burn

Kerry

Leverage IT and AI technologies to reduce the repugnant drain on this state that is the Queensland Public “Service”. There are entire jobs based on maintaining the bureaucratic intricacies. People spend their entire day checking boxes with absolutely no benefit to the community. After that Tahitian Prince this situation exploded.

Trust me because I do know.

Axel

Now I’ve heard every thing, so now all of a sudden we need to upgrade the computer systems of Govt departments, obviously at multi millions / billions of cost . Err who was it that cost Qld Health over $100 million in the payroll debacle?

Gary K

Two absolute givens for any examination of our public servants; there’s far too many of them and they’re paid far too much.

Terry

Time to drain the swamp of the 20 year plus bureaucrats who think its their god given right to tell us what needs to be done. Start in TMR as many of them have wasted billions of taxpayers dollars. Them move over to Communities and then Health. Start putting money back into the system and out of the pockets of the pen pusher.

The state government’s ‘Tower of Power’ (centre) at 1 William St, Brisbane

I have an idea

Electrolytic Lad

All that needs to be done is stop making them a protected species. The issue is that once someone gets into the public service, you can’t get rid of them, even when they don’t perform. Most of them would never survive in the private sector.

Allan

After the payroll debacle, who trusts the current government to implement any new digital systems?

Henry

Needs more than digital services being cleaned out. Anna bought votes by employing endless numbers of civil servants, most of whom are unemployable in the private sector. They lack the skills and motivation.

issy

The reason we have legacy systems is because older staff will always refuse to upskill. Unless a lot of people start leaving the public service you can be sure there has been no improvement.

Election will sort this

Geoff

The first clean-out should be on election day

Fedup

The LNP and David Cristafulli will have to be very alert ⚠️ after winning the next election and immediately counter the flood of lies they get immediately and appoint a very competent, on the ball Minister for Opposition Missinformion and Truth.

Darren

We got a letter from TAFE last week regarding fees for our son’s course. Rang the contact number in the letter and it went to voicemail with a message that “due to Covid the office is closed. Please email your inquiry”. We were concerned we missed a new outbreak! I think public servants has got to comfortable in their cushy jobs.

Jim Carner

Our daily dose of how bad the ALP are performing in every single facet of our lives, the workplace, the economy, the schools and hospitals, the crime riddled streets, the unsafe night-life, the violence in homes, the anger on roads and the general discontent is beyond belief. I’m sure that by Christmas we will all be so much better off.

Originally published as What you said about plans to overhaul Qld public service technology