Published on the 04/02/2016 | Written by Beverley Head
The NSW Government is building on its raft of digital services – this time by updating its smartphone app to allow people to pay fines and review infringement photos…
Finance, Services and Property Manager Dominic Perrottet placed a significant top spin on the announcement, saying that it would be more convenient for people while reducing the risk of late fees. He skated over the fact that it also means Government probably gets its money faster.
The latest update of the Service NSW app, which is available for iPhone and Android device, has been developed in association with the Office of State Revenue. It builds on existing features including the ability to view licence and vehicle registration details, check demerit points, and update address and contact details.
It’s the latest in a line of customer facing services being rolled out by the State Government which has been consolidating its information systems, and taking a more whole-of-government approach to online services.
Launched in November last year, Digital+2016, is the final update for the NSW Government’s ICT strategy and that made clear its focus on “reimagining government in the digital age” By 2019 it wants 70 percent of all transactions conducted digitally.
The Service NSW centres, launched in 2013, are probably the most obvious manifestation of the policy. These have already centralised delivery of many Government services, and in 2015 handled 19 million inquiries.
Previously NSW residents had to navigate 100 call centres, 380 shopfronts, 1,000 websites and 8,000 customer service numbers. Now over 850 separate transactions can be handled through the Service NSW centres, which are often located as kiosks in busy shopping centres.
There is also an increasing number of services which can be accessed directly online. Over the Christmas New Year period the Government quietly launched its online recreational fishing licence service, allowing people to order and pay for licences online, a couple of months ahead of its original schedule.
More digital licences are planned for 2016 as the Government seeks to push more of its interactions online, and at the same time build a more comprehensive data collection.
The NSW Data Analytics Centre which is currently being established takes advantage of new legislation which obliges agencies, in some cases, to provide data to the centre within 14 days. Once centrally corralled the data can be used to deliver online services and better inform whole of government decision making processes.
