The Digital Economy Strategy
In June last year, we blogged about Australia’s Digital Economy Strategy . The strategy provides a roadmap to transform Australia into a world-leading digital economy and society by 2030.
Digital Economy Strategy 2022 update
Late last month, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet released the 2022 . The update tracks how we’re doing against the strategy, focusing on the five foundations and emerging tech (a key component of the strategy).
Digital infrastructure
For digital infrastructure, the 2022 update focuses on the NBN and 5G. It outlines the $4.5 billion investment plan for gigabit capability, which will be completed in 2023. Of the $4.5 billion, more than $2 billion is being invested in regional areas.
The Australian 5G Innovation is another key deliverable for digital infrastructure. Round one funded 19 projects (see successful ) and round , which closes next week, is offering $20 million in grants.
Cybersecurity, safety and trust
There’s been a lot of activity in this area, especially in cybersecurity. Some of the plans/progress include:
$1.67 billion in funding under Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy
The Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act
The Cyber Security Best Practice Regulation Taskforce
Expanded law enforcement powers under the Ransomware Action (released in October 2021)
The National Plan to Combat (released in March 2022) — bringing states, territories and national initiatives together
The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act , which includes new law enforcement powers
Reforms to Australia’s defamation laws — Social Media (Anti Trolling) Bill
Planned review of the Privacy Act 1988 (as part of the Government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms )
Social Media and Online Safety — looking into how online harm affects mental health
Skills and inclusion
The goal for skills and inclusion is to improve digital skills across Australia. Some of they key initiatives covered in the 2022 update include:
An extra 10,000 digital skills training places under the $2 billion JobTrainer
Selection of the four Digital Skills Cadetship projects
An additional $43.8 million for the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund
Student recruitment starting this month for the Next Generation Emerging Technology Graduates Program and Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduates
$18.6 million for digital and data training and employment opportunities for regional areas
Systems and regulation
Systems and regulation focuses on rules and laws to drive digital innovation. Progress highlighted in the 2022 update includes:
Consultation started on modernising the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998
Work started on crypto asset regulation
Expansion of Australia’s Consumer Data (CDR) — energy data sharing is next, starting in October 2022 (Salsa actually built the CDR website - view CDR case study)
Continued investment in digital identity
Trade and international engagement
The goal in this area is to improve digital trade. Some areas covered in the 2022 update are:
The Australia-UK Free Trade (signed in December 2021)
The Critical Technology Supply Chain (released in November 2021)
Investing $18.6 million in critical and emerging technologies standards
Emerging tech
Emerging technologies are a key focal point of Australia’s Digital Economy Strategy 2030. Progress highlighted in the 2022 update includes:
The launch of the new National AI in December 2021
The Blueprint and Action Plan for Critical (released November 2021) — see our blog on the Blueprint for a
Australia’s AI Action (released in June 2021)
The Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduates — the first group of students start in Semester 2 2022
The Australian 5G Innovation Initiative — many of the round one cover emerging tech
The Australian Data Strategy Action (released in December 2021)
Salsa Digital’s take
It’s great to see a report that tracks progress so soon after the initial strategy document. A lot of work has happened in the digital space in a short time, especially across cybersecurity and emerging tech. This work will help keep us on track to be a top 10 digital economy and society by 2030.
Many of the areas also align with Salsa’s work and interests in digital transformation in government. For example:
- Digital infrastructure — whole-of-government platforms such as GovCMS and Victoria’s Single Digital Presence can help with the 2030 digital infrastructure goal of making people’s lives easier through integrated data and technologies
- Cybersecurity — we’re currently doing a lot of work in the cybersecurity space and have been involved in IRAP certification for platforms (see our blog on IRAP certification for GovCMS).
- Systems and regulation — Salsa is giving back to the open source community by donating Salsarians’ time (24 hours per week) to help with the GovZero Aotearoa rules as code project led by Pia .
The 2022 update provides a lot of detail and documentation, and we’re keen to cover some of the newer documents in future editions of DTIG…so keep an eye out for upcoming DTIGs!