VIDEO COMMUNICATION CENTRES

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:05): My question is directed to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister inform the house on initiatives the government is implementing to reduce the need for public sector employees to travel?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:05): I thank the member for Ashford for the question. Travel is an important part of everyday government business and has contributed to establishing and maintaining interstate and global networks in the domains of politics, the public sector and commerce. Interestingly, technology is increasing our ability to reduce the expense of travel to maintain these networks without removing the face-to-face element of important meetings.

To that end videoconferencing infrastructure is being rolled out by the South Australian government to improve communications, especially among geographically-dispersed staff within specific agencies. It is also proving to be effective in reducing travel costs and staff travel times, including accommodation costs, as well as reducing the occupational health and safety risks associated with long-distance travel from the regions.

At present, videoconferencing technology is being utilised within agencies for remote education in TAFE, for long-distance medical consultations from regional areas and for conducting remote court appearances. Videoconferencing is also being used between agencies for vocational education and training for school students, and externally with other governments and external service providers such as non-government organisations.

In the current tight budgetary climate and in recognition of the importance of face-to-face communications for staff regionally dispersed across agencies, the Office of the Chief Information Officer has established a number of video communication centres. This will help to reduce the cost of travel through a centrally-managed service.

The government is currently in the process of enabling multiparty video connections; that is, more than two agencies. We have an arrangement with the commonwealth and a purpose-built facility within the State Administration Centre where the commonwealth and all state ministers can communicate without having to travel interstate, and this is a further evolution of this concept. This is particularly useful for agencies with multiple regional sites that need to communicate either together or across agency boundaries. Videoconferencing between external third parties and government will also be possible with this feature.

To make videoconferencing more appealing to government agencies, which is something that we want to encourage, the quality of video is being enhanced through a major upgrade of the government's data network at a cost of approximately $2.5 million. This upgrade positions the government well to handle the traffic loads resulting from increased use of videoconferencing. In addition, Service SA has recently installed room-based videoconferencing systems in Port Augusta, Mount Gambier and Gawler for use by government agencies. The Office of the Chief Information Officer is undertaking a number of across-government communications to increase awareness of these facilities and to support agencies interested in acquiring a service suitable for their needs.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Still living behind the shop, mate? You must have lost everything!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Davenport.