Update: Mr. Duncan McIntyre, Assistant Secretary, Data and Digital Branch, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government, provided an overview of the elements of the Data Integration Partnership in his keynote address at the Canberra OpenGov Leadership Forum on July 13, 2017.
The Australian Government is launching a new Commonwealth initiative called the Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA). DIPA will establish data analytics teams to deliver improved, evidence‑based programmes and policy.
The Government plans to invest AU$130.8 million in the DIPA over three years, through the Public Sector Modernisation Fund announced in the Budget. From the modernisation fund of AU$500 million, the government is investing AU$350 million over a period of three years from 2017-18 to modernise, transform and enhance the productivity of the Australian Public Service. Another AU$129.6 million is being invested in agencies to support their transition to more modern and sustainable operating models, including upgrading of outdated ICT systems and other assets.
The DIPA intends to leverage the Government’s vast data assets, producing cost effective and timely insights into data. Data integration generates further insights from the data that is already available, making it a cost effective and timely way of gathering more information in order to help improve social, economic and environmental wellbeing.
One of the policy areas to be analysed would be the costs and benefits of different forms of industry assistance. Analytics would also be utilised for identifying and preventing risk of disability in the workplace, supporting ongoing workforce participation for those with a disability, and better understanding the effects of medications to avoid adverse reactions.
High-value national data assets will be created by DIPA to build longitudinal datasets about populations, businesses, the environment and government to inform the development and evaluation of policies and programs.
The data will be de-identified and analysed in controlled environments governed by strict processes and legislation to ensure privacy and security.
Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, Angus Taylor said, “Data analytics provides an extraordinary opportunity to support policy development and deliver real outcomes for Australians. A central capability within the DIPA will coordinate specialised teams focused on social, industry, environmental and government efficiency policies.”
A short while back, the Australian Productivity Commission released a 658-page comprehensive report on ‘Data Availability and Use’. The report highlighted the need for better data linkage and integration in Australia.
