Delivering better digital services and enhanced skills for Tasmanians

26 August 2021

Michael Ferguson MP

Minister for Science and Technology

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is improving access to Government services, helping businesses become more agile and competitive online, and supporting the community to improve digital literacy and engagement.

That’s why the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget invests an additional $8.5 million in initiatives that will boost our digital economy, and make it easier to connect Tasmanians to the Government services that they need and expect.

As part of this Budget, we are investing $4.3 million to begin development of a new, one-stop Service Tasmania digital service platform. This will offer a centralised and seamless digital portal, accessed through a single and secure login. When complete, the service will feature an accessible and user-friendly interface, and offer anywhere, anytime, any device access to Government services.

Tasmanians who prefer to access face-to-face assistance through the network of Service Tasmania shopfronts across the State will still be able to do so into the future. However, in an increasingly digital society, the community will benefit from better options of simple, quick and secure access to online Government services. Over time, the Service Tasmania digital service platform will grow to encompass a broad array of services, including digital licensing and, potentially, integration with Commonwealth Government services.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is proud to continue backing businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and develop and help market new products and services around the world. The 2021-22 Budget invests a total of $2.18 million to continue to support skills development through the extension of funding to the long running Digital Ready for Business program, the Project Springboard development program, the Enterprize innovation hubs in Hobart and Launceston, as well as the introduction of a new hub to be developed for the North-West.

While the measure for digital inclusion in our community has risen by 8.1 per cent since we came to Government, the Budget provides even more support to ensure Tasmanians aren’t left behind in an increasingly digital society. We are doubling funding to our digital inclusion program Digital Ready for Daily Life to $700,000 through to 2025 and re-developing the scope of the initiative. Through this boost, we will provide Tasmanians with better tools and support to ensure those fellow Tasmanians who have less experience with technology are not left behind.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is building a more confident, better connected digital economy, and a more digitally inclusive community.