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Information Technology News UK expert hired to rein in Australian Govt IT spend
Information Technology News UK expert hired to rein in Australian Govt IT spend | UK expert hired to rein in Australian Govt IT spend |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Tuesday, 15 April 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 3 Minister Tanner said: “The Australian Government has approximately $10 billion in ICT assets and spends around $6 billion per annum on ICT encompassing procurement, maintenance, development and staff costs. Under the Howard Government this spending was completely uncoordinated leading to serious inefficiencies and cost blowouts.”Featured Whitepaper
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In the past, Sir Peter Gershon, a former Chief Executive of the UK Treasury’s Office of Government Commerce, has undertaken several major strategic reviews for the UK Government on procurement including ICT and public sector efficiency, producing an estimated £23 billion in budget savings. Mr Tanner said: "Sir Peter’s track record at the most senior levels of both industry and government in the UK speaks for itself. His expertise as an industry leader, strategist and highly effective reviewer of public administration makes him a compelling candidate to review the way in which the Australian Government manages its use of ICT." Tanner’s press release advises that “Gershon will be supported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation and will report to the Minister by September 2008 on options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ICT within Government. The review is part of the broader ongoing reform agenda to improve the efficiency of government spending and deliver better value for money.” Gershon’s career has spanned both the private and public sectors since he graduated in Mathematics at Cambridge University in 1969. After starting in the computer industry (1969-1986) he worked in the telecommunications industry (1987-1994). Following that Sir Peter held positions as the Managing Director, Marconi Electronic Systems and became the main board director in GEC plc with responsibility for its £3.5 billion international aerospace and defence business. Following the sale of GEC’s defence business to BAE SYSTEMS in late 1999 he joined the Civil Service in April 2000 as the first Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) which had been created following a review Sir Peter had undertaken for the Government in 1999. OGC’s remit is to lead a major programme to reform the way UK Central Civil Government handles over £13 billion p.a. of public procurement. £1.6 billion of value for money gains were achieved by March 2003 against an initial target of £1 billion. Continued on page 3. |
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