Page 3460 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
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on reducing duplication, seeking better efficiencies and providing leadership in procurement, in ICT, in energy efficiency—in fact, all of the issues with which it deals.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (8.36): I think the issue of security of ICT systems must be of paramount issue for all governments. Other jurisdictions have been concerned about this issue. I note in particular events recently in Western Australia. The WA Auditor-General recently undertook a number of tests in WA government agencies of ICT security. The findings were concerning and in some cases very scary. There are a huge number of vulnerabilities. Perhaps the worst was with USBs.
The WA audit office left a number of USBs in different agencies. Invariably these USBs were simply plugged in and installed into the agency’s IT systems with no check on whether such an action could jeopardise the entire IT system. The audit office was able to determine when this action took place. This experience raises the fundamental question of how secure the ACT’s ICT systems are. There are issues about electronic recording of access to IT systems. Indeed, one could reference the data manipulation scandal at the Canberra Hospital.
It is important for all sorts of reasons that organisations are able to monitor and track the use of electronic equipment so that we can follow the flow of information and also identify those who have accessed equipment and information. We all need to be vigilant about these matters. We did hear about the government’s ability to test and their recovery plans. There are some recommendations covering these issues in the report. We commend the Shared Services line to the Assembly.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (8.37): I thank members for their contributions and advise that Shared Services provides cost-effective and efficient services across the territory government. The model has worked well for the territory and it is indeed testament to the management and professionalism of the team at Shared Services. Time prevents me from reading through the entire organisational chart at this point.
In this budget the government is continuing to invest in innovation and improvements in the operations of Shared Services. These investments include more modern and efficient data storage facilities to cater for the government’s future data requirements as they grow. It includes investments to replace ageing server hardware to ensure that our ICT capabilities continue to provide stable and reliable voice and data networks for our agencies. It also includes innovative investment to improve productivity, such as facilitating improved identity and data access management and extending mobile device capabilities. It is the government’s view that both of these initiatives should allow significant productivity improvements and allow the public service to become even more efficient in the delivery of outstanding services to the people of Canberra. I thank members for their support of this line item.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
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