Original funding and actual cost of myGov in Australia FY 2013-2016

In financial year 2020, the estimated expenditure of the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) in Australia was 81.94 million Australian dollars. In the following year, the Australian Government budgeted its largest expenditure for the Agency, with forward estimates showing a gradual reduction in expenditure thereafter. The DTA was formed in 2016 to oversee the Australian government’s digital transformation strategy which is underpinned by three strategic priorities for a government that is; easy to deal with, informed by its citizens, and fit for the digital age.

E-government services through myGov

With the establishment of a growing number of e-government services through the myGov online service portal, Australia is well underway in achieving its digital transformation goals. In 2020, Australia ranked within the top 10 world e-government leaders, on par with Sweden and the UK, and more than 15 million Australians held a myGov account. As of 2019, over a quarter of MyGov accounts were linked to Australian Tax Office online services, with similar proportions linked to Centrelink and Medicare.

Building digital infrastructure

Before the myGov digital platform was launched, Australia underwent a major upgrade to its copper wire telecommunications network in the form of the National Broadband Network (NBN). The NBN now provides broadband internet connections to individuals and businesses across the country, creating the necessary foundation for accessing e-government services. However, having access to the internet is only one element of delivering accessible e-government services, while disadvantaged groups could be at risk of being further disadvantaged by significant changes to the way services are delivered.