The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has made several strong moves indicating the development of a major program of information and communication technology reform.
An RFT (request for tender) was released late last week for provision of support and helpdesk services for domestic and foreign areas covering approximately 8000 users. Concurrently, an announcement was made to replace the acting head of DFAT's ICT division, currently responsible for managing the existing support tender.
Since the release of the Lindsay Tanner-backed Gershon review of IT procurement outlays in October, government departments have been moving slowly and unsteadily towards the report's recommendations. With the onset of the world financial crisis, agencies have been caught between two seemingly unreconcilable agendas. Gershon and his Department of Finance backers have advocated stringent savings programs and budgetary cutbacks, however, the senior upper echelons of cabinet have been very publically reaching deep into government coffers to drive extensive politically-motivated rounds of spending, in education and local government, amongst other arenas.
Populist political pressure and US promptings had prompted the federal spending sprees, spearheaded by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Deputy PM Julia Gillard. Tanner's role in managing the government purse has been diminished somewhat in this, however his focus on the Review had prompted widespread doubt and concern amongst Canberra's ICT industry.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had made some cursory motions towards compliance with Gershon in mid-February, announcing modest cuts to IT contractors. This move placed it in a wary middle ground between the more enthusiastic departments, such as DIAC (Immigration and Citizenship), and the majority of mid-to-large sized agencies, many of whom have made no significant nods to the Gershon report.
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