16 January 2016
Minister to visit France, UK and USA
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for
Human Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister
for the Centenary of ANZAC, Stuart Robert, will depart
tomorrow for a series of counterpart meetings in Europe
and the United States of America to discuss innovative
ways to improve information, communications and
technology (ICT), and which will include a sod-turning
ceremony at the site of the new Sir John Monash Centre
in France.
Speaking before he left Australia, Mr Robert said the
meetings would focus on the experiences of other
countries in implementing wholesale public sector ICT
reform.
“Technology is a key focus of this trip. Discussing
how our international counterparts have upgraded and
integrated their government ICT systems will be
instructive as we undertake wholesale public sector ICT
reform here in Australia,” Mr Robert said.
“As Minister for both Veterans’ Affairs and Human
Services I am committed to ensuring the customer is at
the centre of everything we do. These meetings provide
an opportunity to share information and experiences that
support the development and delivery of better programs
for Australians.”
Mr Robert will discuss the Government’s new Welfare
Payment Infrastructure Transformation Programme (WPIT)
with his counterparts. WPIT will completely overhaul the
Department of Human Services’ ageing social welfare ICT
platform and will provide customers with faster, more
connected digital services.
“This is critical national infrastructure that
underpins the entire social security system, which
delivers over $100 billion in payments each year,” Mr
Robert said.
“The project has been developed following extensive
consultation with international governments, private
sector organisations, major ICT enterprises and lessons
from similar technology transformations at home and
abroad.”
While in France, Mr Robert will participate in a
sod-turning ceremony at the site of the new Sir John
Monash Centre. The Centre, named after General Sir John
Monash who led the Australian Corps with outstanding
success on the Western Front in 1918, will be the focal
point of the existing Australian Remembrance Trail.
“With links to First World War sites of significance
to Australia, the Sir John Monash Centre and the
Australian Remembrance Trail will educate a new audience
about Australia’s role on the Western Front battlefields
and in so doing, provide a lasting legacy from the
Centenary of Anzac,” Mr Robert said.
Media enquiries:
Richard Briedis (Minister Robert): 0477 391 174
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203
Department of Human Services Media: 0411 670 958
