Information and Communications Technology

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation on the subject of ICT.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Less than six months ago, the Office for Digital Government was rebranded to reflect a renewed focus on the consumer with the new title of Office for Customer, ICT and Digital Transformation. However, in another example of this government's failed direction in the digital and cyber department, the team responsible for the whole-of-government ICT has been changed yet again to the 'ICT and Digital Government division'.

Following the recent termination of the chief information officer due to allegedly false documentation, the government has begun advertising for yet another newly created position, the whole-of-government chief technology officer. My questions for the minister are:

1. Has the position of chief information officer been abolished?

2. How will the new position of whole-of-government chief technology officer differ from the role of the chief information officer, and what are they responsible for?

3. Can the minister confirm that the process for appointing the whole-of-government chief technology officer will be more stringent and thorough than the appointment of the position of chief information officer?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:34): I thank the member for her question and her interests in information technology and good governance in general. The matter to which she refers, I am not going to delve very deeply into. There are matters that, obviously, are being investigated and are before the relevant authority.

The position of chief information officer is, as I understand it, a position within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the restructuring around that position and positions that follow, I would presume, would still be within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I am happy to take those questions on notice as my department, the Department of State Development, wasn't the department that the chief information officer came from, it was the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, which is the lead agency in many cross-government areas. I will take those questions on notice about the process, the change of roles, what those roles are and bring back an answer for the honourable member.