With the advent of digital and mobile technology, many government services have become available online and this trend is continuing. Citizens, businesses and other government customers often prefer these e-Government services.
For departments and agencies, e-Government transaction costs are substantially lower. They also provide a level of transparency that militates against the risk of fraud and corruption.
Progress towards developing and executing an e-Government strategy in Australia has been slow, with a range of legislative barriers to greater provision and uptake of digital transactions.
Australia should follow the lead of the United Kingdom and implement a ‘digital by default’ strategy.
The Department of Human Services myGov service should be the centrepiece of an aggressive new approach.
The myGov service allows people to access government services from Medicare, Centrelink, Child Support, the Department of Health, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the National Disability Insurance Agency using one user name and password online and via mobile apps.