The Victorian Government has started work on the development of a new ICT strategy after a report by the state's Auditor General found systemic obsolescence throughout frontline services.

 

State Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips announced the formation of the Victorian Information and Communications Technology Advisory Committee (VICTAC) earlier this month to guide the strategy.

 

Mr Rich-Phillips took the opportunity to take a swipe at his Labor predecessors, accusing them of waste and negligence in the ICT field.

 

"The previous Labor Government adopted a piecemeal approach to ICT that saw at least $1.44 billion of taxpayers' money wasted in cost blowouts on projects like HealthSMART, myki and the LEAP database," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

 

"The money that Labor frittered away by mismanaging ICT projects could have funded the development of vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals and roads."

 

Mr Rich-Phillips said VICTAC, which includes both industry and government representatives, was being chaired by former South Australian Chief Information Officer Grantly Mailes.

 

"The committee will provide a practical, forward-looking approach to the development and use of ICT by government," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

 

The report by the Auditor General can be found here