IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Ipswich in Queensland has become the only Australian city to score a gong in IDC Asia Pacific’s list of the 19 most outstanding smart city projects in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan. It was recognised in the administration category along with Wuhan East Late Free Trade Zone in China.

Auckland Council’s Safeswim initiative scored a gong in the safe water category. They were the only ANZ winners. China, Taiwan and Singapore as the biggest winners claiming five, four and three awards respectively.

Ipswich continues to be recognised as one of Australia's leading smart cities after being shortlisted for the top prize at the inaugural Australian Smart Cities Awards.

The awards, to be held as part of Australia's first Smart Cities Week from October 29-31, recognises and rewards leadership, celebrates best practice and stimulates action to advance the smart cities movement.

Member for Blair Shayne Neumann announced that an "e-health" super site will be operated by Brisbane South Division in partnership with Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice as one of 12 national implementation sites.

“The e-health super site is exciting news for Ipswich patients, as thousands of residents will be able to sign up for e-health records over the next 12 months,” Mr Neumann said.

IT Minister Ian Walker said the ICT Strategy set the roadmap to ensure the Queensland Government’s IT systems delivered the best results for the community in the most cost-effective way.

“This strategy will ensure Queenslanders will not have to face another debacle like the failed health payroll system which will cost taxpayers $1.25 billion,” Mr Walker said.

Residents and business owners will find it easier and more cost-effective to access Council services, information and support thanks to Logan City Council’s 2022/2023 Budget.

Council will undertake a series of IT upgrades that will improve and strengthen digital capacity, provide value-for-money outcomes for ratepayers and increase cyber security.

Mater Health Services operates seven hospitals in South-East Queensland. Its Brisbane hospital was one of the sites that received money from the government to be one of the first to try to implement e-health records to integrate with the national system.

The move comes as authorities lay the groundwork for a system to share electronic medical records between health services.

Eventually, GPs and hospitals will be able to electronically view key details such as current medications and allergies when treating a patient from another health service.

Minister Finn inspected the Quality Assurance Test Facility ( QATF ) within the 317 Edward Street Data Centre, after visiting Polaris Data Centre in Springfield Central.

He said the QATF was an advanced test facility, established to support construction of the foundation infrastructure that enables consolidation of the Government’s CBD data centres, networks and infrastructure services.

Earlier this week Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan launched the National Broadband Network in Townsville. This is the first place in Queensland to benefit from the NBN rollout and Conroy said that both businesses and residents in the area would benefit hugely from access to the NBN.

Mr Swan also commented on the NBN rollout in the area, stating: “The launch of the NBN today is yet another example of how the Gillard Government is delivering for North Queensland. The NBN will significantly support growth and create business opportunities for Townsville with its diverse regional economy and strengths in mining and agriculture.”

Medicare will fund video-link hook-ups between medical specialists and patients who would usually have to travel to Mackay.

The aim is to bring rural patients and doctors together regardless of distance.

Dr Michael Williams, consultant paediatrician and director of child and adolescent health at Mackay Base Hospital, said the Federal Government's telehealth initiative was a good thing for both patients and health professionals

The Federal Government initiative involves establishing a national database that will allow patients to register their medical information, which will then be accessible by medical professionals across the country.

Condamine Medical Centre's Dr Ross Hetherington said the system would be beneficial to all Australians, particularly those with ongoing health issues.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon last week announced Brisbane South Division will pilot the roll-out of a controversial ``e-health’’ records program in the city’s south.

``Our 12 e-health lead implementation sites are aiming to have more than half a million Australians enrolled before the national launch of e-health records next year,’’ she said.

The area will be just one of nine nationwide to participate in the trial.

IT Minister Ros Bates said the Newman Government was reshaping shared services to reduce costs, confusing regulations and onerous red tape for taxpayers.

“A new One Stop Shop will be developed to provide Queenslanders with easy and convenient access to Government information online, over the phone and face-to-face,” Ms Bates said.

The high-speed internet will become the lifeblood of towns like Birdsville and Bedourie, Diamantina Shire chief executive Scott Mason says.

It will boost economic growth, education and health care.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) will deliver faster satellite broadband, but the council is planning to put its own money up to get fibre optic links for the region.

Public servants have now been forwarded self assessment forms, which are posted on the internal public service site GovNet.

An ALP spokesman said public servants losing jobs are required to decide within two weeks on options for the treatment of their superannuation accounts.

The Service – with at-call access to expertise including the best clinicians in the state - will serve small, remote communities where current difficulties in recruiting staff caused a downward spiral in health access and blowouts in health costs.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg would not reveal where the other four trial sites for the Rural Telehealth Service would be created this year but suggested the other sites would be set through engaging with health boards in those areas.

He said the service would transport remote patients into the most advanced hospitals in the state through technology.

Telehealth project officer Lois Cobon said the Toowoomba Hospital began telehealth about 10 years ago and the service has grown and improved over the past decade.

"Telehealth makes use of video-conferencing technology so that patients from around south-west Queensland can attend their local hospital and have a specialist appointment at Toowoomba Hospital via video-conference.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen wrote to the Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, to warn of the "major issue'' developing in schools.

He said the rollout of laptops as part of the computers in schools program saw many schools struggle to attract and retain technicians.

Information Technology Minister Ian Walker on Friday tabled in State Parliament a $5.2 million audit of the government's ICT sector and confirmed he had accepted almost all of the report's 60 recommendations.

Among them include shifting to a cloud based email system to save $17 million and cancelling fixed-line and mobile phone services to save up to $9 million.