Digital Economy Strategy — 2022 update

The Digital Economy Strategy

In June last year, we blogged about Australia’s Digital Economy Strategy 2030. 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 update. 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 Initiative is another key deliverable for digital infrastructure. Round one funded 19 projects (see successful projects) and round two, 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 2020

• The Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act 2021 

• The Cyber Security Best Practice Regulation Taskforce 

• Expanded law enforcement powers under the Ransomware Action Plan (released in October 2021)

• The National Plan to Combat Cybercrime (released in March 2022) — bringing states, territories and national initiatives together 

• The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act 2021, which includes new law enforcement powers 

• The Online Safety Act 2021 

• Reforms to Australia’s defamation laws — Social Media (Anti Trolling) Bill 2021

• Planned review of the Privacy Act 1988 (as part of the Government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry)

• Social Media and Online Safety Report — 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 Fund 

• Selection of the four Digital Skills Cadetship Trial 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 Program 

• $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 Right (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 Agreement (signed in December 2021) 

• Australia’s Services Exports Action Plan 

• The Critical Technology Supply Chain Principles (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 Centre in December 2021

• The Blueprint and Action Plan for Critical Technologies (released November 2021) — see our blog on the Blueprint for a summary

• Australia’s AI Action Plan (released  in June 2021)

• The Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduates Program — the first group of students start in Semester 2 2022

• The Australian 5G Innovation Initiative — many of the round one projects cover emerging tech 

• The Australian Data Strategy Action Plan (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 Andrews.

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!