Today's State Budget unveiled a new initiative to strengthen cybersecurity, improve government efficiency and encourage investment in the digital sector.
The Digital Investment Fund, endowed with $200 million over five years, will spearhead strategic investment in digital projects across the South Australian public sector.
As well as optimising the value of government expenditure, the Fund aims to catalyse growth opportunities for the digital industry by nurturing a steady stream of digital projects.
Central to its mission is the improvement of government procurement processes for ICT platforms, with the Fund's project pipeline to be published to build confidence and planning in the sector.
The Digital Investment Fund will be underpinned by a robust governance framework to ensure transparent and consistent prioritisation of digital efforts. In addition, agencies will be encouraged to co-fund projects wherever possible.
Oversight and reporting of the Fund's operations, including the allocation of funds, will be the responsibility of the Treasurer.
Priority initiatives identified for early consideration include strengthening cybersecurity measures, upgrading ICT systems in the justice sector, and modernising critical information systems such as the Child Protection Case Management Information System.
To facilitate the management of the fund, a dedicated team within the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) will provide support and guidance to a steering committee and assist agencies with project development and implementation as needed.