The Australian Data and Digital Council Meetings 2020

Who is the ADDC?

The Australian Data and Digital Council (ADDC) is a collaborative council from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. It’s made up of ministerial representatives from all Australian states and territories, and New Zealand.

Who are the members?

The ADDC includes representatives from each state and territory, and the Chair represents the Federal Government. In 2020, there were seven meetings.

For the first meeting (in April 2020) Council Ministers met by teleconference. Attending the meeting were:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MP (WA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)
• The Hon Lauren Moss MLA (NT)
• Parliamentary Secretary, Danny Pearson MP (VIC)

The second meeting (in May 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• Parliamentary Secretary, Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon David Pisoni MP (SA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)
• Mr Mick Gentleman MLA (ACT)
• The Hon Lauren Moss MLA (NT)
• The Hon Kris Faafoi (NZ)

The third meeting (in May 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• Parliamentary Secretary, Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Mick de Brenni MP (QLD)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon David Pisoni MP (SA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)
• Mr Mick Gentleman MLA (ACT)
• The Hon Kris Faafoi (NZ)

The fourth meeting (in June 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• The Hon Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Mick de Brenni MP (QLD)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon David Pisoni MP (SA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)
• Mr Mick Gentleman MLA (ACT)

The fifth meeting (in July 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• The Hon Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)

The sixth meeting (in September 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• The Hon Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Mick de Brenni MP (QLD)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)

The seventh meeting (in November 2020) was attended via teleconference by:

• The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Commonwealth)
• The Hon Victor Dominello MP (NSW)
• The Hon Danny Pearson MP (VIC)
• The Hon Dave Kelly MLA (WA)
• The Hon Michael Ferguson MP (TAS)
• Mr Chris Steel MLS (ACT)
• The Hon Paul Kirby MLA (NT)

What’s the ADDC’s role?

The purpose of the ADDC is to facilitate and drive smarter service delivery and improved policy outcomes through cross-government collaboration on data and digital transformation.

The Council works to align policies and services across Australia, focusing on:

• Reforming cross-jurisdictional data and digital platforms, services and protocols

• Building public trust and delivering a seamless digital identity experience for citizens

• Transforming government services around life events

The ADDC operates the critical role of data and technology in the governance and development of Australia’s digital landscape.

The ADDC’s first 2020 meeting

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the first meeting, on 2 April 2020, Council Ministers met by teleconference. Their discussion focussed on COVID-19 challenges to government services.

Ministers agreed that COVID-19 is a major disruptive event, especially as most government services are delivered face-to-face. Social distancing measures have led to unmatched pressure on digital platforms and systems.

Ministers identified three shared challenges:

• Data sharing between agencies and jurisdictions

• Upholding cyber security standards in a rapidly changing service delivery environment

• Leveraging digital identity efforts across jurisdictions

Ministers agreed to prioritise these challenges and find collaborative solutions. They also acknowledged the importance of the National Cabinet in resolving shared data challenges.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 2 April 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s second 2020 meeting

For the second meeting, on 1 May 2020, Council Ministers again met by teleconference. Their discussion covered:

Ministers welcomed New Zealand to the membership of the ADDC.

1. COVIDSafe app – Ministers discussed the COVIDSafe app, designed to help state and territory officials quickly contact people potentially exposed to COVID-19.

   1. The app speeds up identifying close contacts to reduce the spread of the virus. Public privacy concerns were prioritised in the app’s design, with encrypted data stored securely on the user’s phone. Only relevant state or territory public health officials will have access to information once a person is diagnosed with COVID-19.

   2. Ministers were happy to see a strong uptake of the voluntary app, with 3.5 million installations recorded. They discussed the importance of ensuring and increasing the public’s trust in government technology tools.

2. Decision-making support – Ministers discussed the role of data in supporting decision-making across jurisdictions to address a range of social, economic and health needs. They agreed to work together to explore effective solutions.

3. Regular meetings every four weeks were agreed on for the medium term.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 1 May 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s third 2020 meeting

For the third meeting, on 29 May 2020, Council Ministers met by teleconference. They discussed the following five main items:

1. COVIDSafe app – Ministers noted current downloads were at 6.1 million on the app, helping with quicker contact tracing.

2. Data sharing – Ministers discussed the importance of data in supporting decision-makers. Jurisdictions agreed to continue working together to identify data for policy inquiries, focusing on the privacy of Australians.

3. Digital inclusion - Ministers agreed to continue prioritising digital inclusion in future initiatives, ensuring no one is left behind by the digital divide. They agreed to conduct a collaborative feasibility assessment for at-risk, digitally disadvantaged Australians on affordability options to access government services online and by phone.
   
   NT, WA and QLD to develop a program of priority digital inclusion initiatives for the Council’s future consideration.

4. Digital identity – Ministers discussed digital identity and the development of the Trusted Identity Framework. Jurisdictions will continue to develop the Framework in collaboration with the Commonwealth Digital Transformation Agency.

5. Understanding and response to natural disasters – Recent natural disasters across Australia highlight the need for an integrated response across all government levels. The ADDC, in consultation with the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management, will develop new products, such as a national fire map. Ministers agreed to explore data sharing across jurisdictions relating to natural disasters.
   
   Additionally, Ministers discussed the continued streamlining of how the public engages with government during critical life events.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 29 May 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s fourth 2020 meeting

For the fourth meeting, on 26 June 2020, Council Ministers met by teleconference. They discussed the following areas:

• Governments continue to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, sharing data and digital initiatives. The SA Government is working on COVID-Safe automated business updates. ‘Working for Victoria’ developed an online platform that allows applicants to quickly find, and apply for, work opportunities for Victorians.

• COVIDSafe app – downloads now exceed 6.4 million, helping to speed up contact tracing.

• Community trust – Ministers discussed the importance of public trust in data and digital initiatives. They agreed on four principles and eight commitments. The four principles focus on respect, security, transparency and accountability.

• Decision-making on COVID-19 recovery – Ministers discussed working together to access accurate data to understand the pandemic’s impact and how to provide targeted support for Australians. Ministers agreed their top priority was identifying and sharing data to support job creation while ensuring privacy protections for all Australians.

• Digital identity framework – Ministers agreed a nationally consistent framework for digital identity is needed to enable interoperability, re-use of identity systems across jurisdictions, better customer experiences and reduced privacy and fraud risks. Ministers will work towards aligning digital identity across Australia with the Trusted Digital Identity Framework.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 26 June 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s fifth 2020 meeting

For the fifth meeting, on 31 July 2020, Council Ministers again met by teleconference. They discussed the three following areas:

1. Australia’s recovery and response to COVID-19 – Jurisdictions continue to work together to access important data to improve Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and to support the National Cabinet’s job-making agenda.

2. Digital identity – Ministers agreed to develop a National Digital Identity Roadmap as part of the ADDC’s commitment to align to the Trusted Digital Identity Framework, creating a consistent digital identity system throughout Australia. Taking a national approach will ensure consistency and compatibility in digital identity verification and support the re-use of commonly held digital identities across jurisdictions. Improving the experiences for individuals and businesses when interacting with government services.

3. Digital inclusion – Ensuring no one is left behind by the digital divide continues to be an area of focus for the Ministers.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 31 July 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s sixth 2020 meeting

The sixth meeting, on 4 September 2020, saw Council Ministers once again meeting by teleconference. They discussed two main points:

1. Key life events – Ministers agreed on updated principles to support a nationally consistent approach to life-event initiatives.

2. National data and digital initiatives – Ministers agreed to release an updated State of the Data and Digital Nation report as a priority. The report provides an overview of data and digital initiatives driving national transformation and identifies cross-jurisdictional collaboration opportunities.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 4 September 2020 meeting.

The ADDC’s seventh 2020 meeting

The seventh meeting, on 13 November 2020, was once again held via teleconference. Ministers discussed the following four areas:

1. Data and digital transformation – Ministers continue to focus on improving outcomes for Australians through cross-government collaboration in data and digital transformation and smarter service delivery.

2. ICT procurement processes – Ministers discussed opportunities to collaborate on ICT procurement practices to stimulate our economy and support business recovery post-COVID-19.

3. National multi-hazards systems – Jurisdictions have been developing solutions to provide timely information on fires, floods and cyclones to the community. Ministers agreed this critical data needs to be accessible and shareable across borders, benefiting decision-making and industry solutions.

4. The digital divide – Ministers agreed to explore options for new digital inclusion projects. To provide equal access and benefits to all Australians – closing the digital divide.

For more information, you may like to read the full PMC communication for the 13 November 2020 meeting.

Salsa Digital’s take

The seven meetings held by the ADDC in 2020 focus on the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and finding efficient and effective ways to use digital technologies for better customer experiences.

The ADDC aims to improve the wellbeing of the Australian public by improving crisis response, enhancing government services, promoting digital inclusion, safeguarding data, driving economic growth, making data shareable across jurisdictions, and ensuring equal access to the benefits of digital technologies to close the digital divide.