Read into Hansard on Tuesday 2nd July 2013

CONSOLIDATED FUND APPROPRIATION BILL (No. 1) 2013 No. 33

In Committee

DIVISION 9  (Department of Premier and Cabinet)

Output group 3 – Electronic services for government agencies and the community.

3.1 Information & communications technology (ICT) policy development and implementation –

Ms RATTRAY – I take the opportunity while this line item has been left open to ask if there is any connection with the announcement of funding for the Sense-T program, which received $10 million under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement?  Is there any reflection of that funding in this particular line item?  It talks about information and communications technology policy development and implementation, and from what I gathered on the radio yesterday, this Sense-T program is going to support all agencies.  I want to know what impact rolling out that particular program might have on this line item in the budget.  Should it be increased by $10 million in the forward estimates to somehow reflect that funding?

Mr FARRELL – There is no connection with this line item and the Sense-T project.  The Sense-T project deals with sensors, water temperature sensors and information sensors – gathering information.  It is a joint CSIRO, University of Tasmania and Tasmanian government project.  This output deals with internal-to-government ICT.  It is about ICT strategy and the ICT policy.  The dollars relate to people who work with agencies on ICT strategy.

Mr VALENTINE – I wanted to find out a little more about the strategy that the government might be following in terms of knowledge management.  I remember asking a question in estimates about whether government agencies are going to be putting in place knowledge management systems.  They assist when you are dealing with a lot of staff movements and the like – people moving from department to department, with redundancies taking place.  One way of making sure that the knowledge is retained is through a knowledge management system.  I was interested to know whether those systems were being promulgated across government departments as a strategy.

Mr FARRELL – The short answer is ‘yes’; knowledge management is being looked at.  The Information Management Committee is chaired by the State Archivist with representatives from every agency and is thus supported by this output.  As you would understand, honourable member for Hobart, it is a complex issue and there are many issues related to system and process.

Item agreed to.

Output group 3 agreed to.
…
Output group 6 agreed to.

Division 9 agreed to.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.

[2.40 p.m.]

DIVISION 4 (Department of Health and Human Services)

Output group 5 – Human Services

5.3 Housing services –

Mr VALENTINE – A general question about Housing Tasmania tenants:  if they get themselves into a position where they are able to afford to do so, are they able to buy the house they are currently renting from the department?

Mr FARRELL – The answer to the honourable member for Hobart’s question is:  yes, if people can afford to purchase a property, they are encouraged to but it may not necessarily be the property they are in.  The reason for that is, if a property had four bedrooms or something that was desirable for another family, or maybe it had been modified at some stage for disability access and that was not going to be needed, then Housing Tasmania would value that property as a retaining property to make sure that it goes to a tenant who requires that type of program.

There are two programs – Home Share and Streets Ahead – and they are both assistance schemes to encourage people into private ownership.  Since 2001, there have been 1 559 properties sold.

Item agreed to.
…
DIVISION 9

(Department of Premier and Cabinet)

Output group 3 – Electronic services for government agencies and the community.

3.1 Information & communications technology (ICT) policy development and implementation –

Ms RATTRAY – I take the opportunity while this line item has been left open to ask if there is any connection with the announcement of funding for the Sense-T program, which received $10 million under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement?  Is there any reflection of that funding in this particular line item?  It talks about information and communications technology policy development and implementation, and from what I gathered on the radio yesterday, this Sense-T program is going to support all agencies.  I want to know what impact rolling out that particular program might have on this line item in the budget.  Should it be increased by $10 million in the forward estimates to somehow reflect that funding?

Mr FARRELL – There is no connection with this line item and the Sense-T project.  The Sense-T project deals with sensors, water temperature sensors and information sensors – gathering information.  It is a joint CSIRO, University of Tasmania and Tasmanian government project.  This output deals with internal-to-government ICT.  It is about ICT strategy and the ICT policy.  The dollars relate to people who work with agencies on ICT strategy.

Mr VALENTINE – I wanted to find out a little more about the strategy that the government might be following in terms of knowledge management.  I remember asking a question in estimates about whether government agencies are going to be putting in place knowledge management systems.  They assist when you are dealing with a lot of staff movements and the like – people moving from department to department, with redundancies taking place.  One way of making sure that the knowledge is retained is through a knowledge management system.  I was interested to know whether those systems were being promulgated across government departments as a strategy.

Mr FARRELL – The short answer is ‘yes’; knowledge management is being looked at.  The Information Management Committee is chaired by the State Archivist with representatives from every agency and is thus supported by this output.  As you would understand, honourable member for Hobart, it is a complex issue and there are many issues related to system and process.

Item agreed to.

Output group 3 agreed to.
…
Output group 6 agreed to.

Division 9 agreed to.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.
…
Postponed clause 4 agreed to and bill taken through the committee stage.

Read the full debate here