Open Data Initiatives

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:14): My question is directed to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister inform the house about the action the government has taken since the Premier's launch of the Open Data Action Plan on 21 November 2013?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:15): I thank the member for this question. I am pleased to inform honourable members that the Office for the Chief Information Officer has initiated regular open data forums with SA government and local councils, and released an open data toolkit designed to assist agencies to discover, classify and publish the data available to them. By supporting open data initiatives, this government provides opportunities for business, the community and entrepreneurs to collaborate, participate and use appropriate data in ways that help and benefit all South Australians.

The SA government data portal (data.sa.gov.au) was initially launched with 217 data sets, and now has 243 data sets available for use by business and the community, with agencies designating an open data advocate who is responsible for encouraging and facilitating the public release of data from within their agency. I can also inform the house that I am about to send an open invitation to the public sector at large to become further involved in this exciting initiative, and I will request CEs to again look at releasing even more data where it is appropriate to do so.

The South Australian government is also about to host the second Unleashed competition, which is the South Australian node of a national open data competition called GovHack, and it will be from 11 to 13 July. The Unleashed competition is an activity listed in the Open Data Action Plan, and will demonstrate: first, the possibilities when data is made available to creative entrepreneurs; second, how collaboration can bring new skills to create public benefit at minimal cost to government; and third, how we can stimulate small digital enterprise in South Australia. The competition will be hosted concurrently in Adelaide and Mount Gambier, and will assist our regions by supporting statewide development of our digital economy and entrepreneur communities.

The first Unleashed competition was a huge success, with over 100 participants, with 28 innovative digital ideas submitted. The Unleashed first-place prize, titled Unleashed 2013 Premier's Award, was co-sponsored by Deloitte Digital, Chiliad Consulting and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. The award was designed to assist the winner to commercialise their innovation that used open data.

Social Activewon the last Premier's prize, and this innovative app was launched in December 2013. Social Activeis an exciting new social web application that facilitates fast and easy community interactions. In addition to Unleashed, the Machinery of Data competition, which aims to combine open data with hardware, artistic design or manufacturing, was launched on 23 May at Majoran Distillery to a full house of artists, makers and crafters, who have 11 weeks to build and make their entry.

The Machinery of Data competition is a collaborative project with the government, community and local industry, including partnerships with Fab Lab Adelaide and Hackerspace Adelaide, who are assisting to run a series of events related to Machinery of Data. The competitions provide opportunities for state and local government, industry, the community and entrepreneurs to collaborate, participate and build on shared knowledge and connections to improve open data and entrepreneurial outcomes across South Australia.