Better Services, Better Government is a high level e-government strategy designed to outline broad directions and priorities for the future of e-government. It seeks to maintain the momentum achieved under the Government Online Strategy.
At the same time, the strategy document points out that issues such as who will provide ongoing support are unresolved.
It points to the ongoing implementation of Open Source solutions by Centrelink, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Bureau of Meteorology as examples of government usage of Open Source solutions.
The government has pointed out that its choices, to date, have been based on fit-for-purpose and value-for-money.
"However, the range of available software and software business models is increasing and the full range of options will continue to be considered and understood when making choices about whole-of-government architecture," the strategy document says.
The next phase in e-government will put citizens in the driver's seat of government service delivery and the efficiency benefits will start to accumulate.
The new strategy aims to deliver citizen-focused services, integrate related services, building user trust and confidence and enhancing citizen engagement with government.
Preliminary findings from the latest study into the demand for e-government services show significant benefits flowing from access to online services. The study, E-government Benefits has found that 36 per cent of users gained significant benefits and a further 50 per cent reported moderate benefits.
Some 45 per cent were able to quantify actual cost savings associated with interacting with government online. Nineteen per cent estimated a saving per interaction of less than $10; twelve per cent estimated a saving of between $10 and $24; and 14 per cent estimated savings of over $25 per interaction.
Over 80 per cent indicated a moderate to significant improvement in the ease of finding information.
The study also estimated there were potential financial benefits to government agencies through cuts in costs.
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