The Carr government has pushed the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to the fore as its lead agency for information and communication technology (ICT) issues. Formerly a branch of DITM with primary responsibility for overseeing implementation of tbe NSW government's ICT strategies, the OIT is one of five key agencies that have been collected under Minister John Della Bosca's newly formed Department of Commerce.
Formerly an umbrella organisation for all departments under former Information Technology Minister Kim Yeadon's portfolio, DITM has been stripped of its agencies and abolished from the Public Service.
The government's decision to place IT in thrall to Della Bosca alongside four other departmental areas has created controversy. Some industry observers believe that it dilutes the government's commitment to IT. However, other pundits believe it was sensible move made in order to give ICT issues a place within cabinet.
The Department of Commerce said the move represented an acknowledgment by the NSW government that IT was an essential part of the state's economy.
"IT serves the whole NSW economy and by placing IT within the Department of Commerce will provide strong links to a range of NSW government IT initiatives and provide opportunities to develop further strong partnerships with industry," said a spokesperson for Della Bosca.
However sources close to the government fear that DITM's disbandment may leave gaps in important parts of the NSW government's ICT strategy.
DITM's largest component, Land and Property Information, has reverted to a former incarnation as an independent department and been re-named Lands. The Forestry Industry Structural Adjustment Unit and the Office of Western Sydney have been absorbed into other parts of the government. All remaining branches of DITM have been absorbed into the Department of Lands.
The branches of DITM absorbed into Lands were responsible for promoting NSW IT, liaising with the industry and producing publications to keep it informed on government initiatives. They were also responsible for branding the NSW government's ICT strategy which is built around its widely used slogan the connected state. In contrast the OIT has traditionally looked inward, generating the NSW government's internal IT usage policy.
The Department of Commerce said the OIT would now assume responsibility for developing and driving whole of government initiatives for the use and management of ICT within government, industry and the community. But sources said its closure raised questions over how the government would compete with other states for industry patronage. Victoria and Queensland currently retain dedicated IT departments.
Della Bosca's spokesperson conceded that some details concerning the changeover were yet to be worked out but said it was too early to assume that orphaned DITM functions would be dropped from the government agenda.
He said that the government was currently holding discussions on the matter and would release the results of them later this month.
When will the "economic rationalists" work out that information and communications technology is NOT just about commerce?
It is about time that they started to realise that the use of technology actually has more to do with social impact and change than anything else. How will the new Dept of Commerce provide for the social issues of Education, Health, Welfare and Justice, Environment, and dare I say it - open government.
The NSW Government is already so secretive in it activities because of "commercial in confidence" issues - the last thing we want is a commerce driven agenda.