MEDIA RELEASE

Sydney, June 17: The 2014/15 New South Wales budget has confirmed the importance of ICT spending when looking to develop more efficient and accessible government, according to Australia's peak ICT professional body the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Delivered by Treasurer, and former Minister for Finance and Services holding responsibility for ICT, Andrew Constance, the budget has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in support of landmark technology improvement programs.

The Department of Police and Justice will receive almost $135 million to fund upgrades to their systems, including the use of wearable technology and improved video-conferencing for a series of courts.

ACS CEO Alan Patterson welcomed the focus on ICT.

"What this budget shows is just how important it is to get ICT spending right. The measures which will be funded go a long way towards making New South Wales one of the more digitally connected states in Australia, and this can only lead to benefit for the government and people of that state."

"We are also heartened by the NSW Government's commitment to Cloud services, as demonstrated by the almost $5 million being spent over the next year within the Office of Finance and Services.'

"The power of technology is driven by the power of the people behind the technology, which is why the ACS is committed to working with government to help develop ICT skills throughout the whole of Government. Investments in technology are a great start, but they only show their true value when supported by highly skilled people, in the right place, at the right time.'

"The ACS has enjoyed a long partnership with various NSW Government departments, and we look forward to this continuing given the clear focus on technology development shown by the Treasurer and Premier in today's budget"

Further information

Thomas Shanahan, Australian Computer Society, 0449 902 130

About the Australian Computer Society

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the professional association for Australia's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Over 20,000 ACS members work in business, education, government and the community. The Society exists to create the environment and provide the opportunities for members and partners to succeed. The ACS strives for ICT professionals to be recognised as drivers of innovation in our society, relevant across all sectors, and to promote the formulation of effective policies on ICT and related matters. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.