The Turnbull government is pouring more money into better using data to deliver better policy with a $130.8 million Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA) initiative.
The main purpose of the initiative will be to establish data analytics teams to deliver improved, evidence based programs and policy. The federal government will invest the $130.8m over three years, through the Public Sector Modernisation Fund announced in the Budget.
Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, Angus Taylor, said the idea is to put the vast data assets at the disposal of the government to better use, adding that one of the policy areas to be analysed would be the costs and benefits of different forms of industry assistance.
“Data analytics provides an extraordinary opportunity to support policy development and deliver real outcomes for Australians,” he said.
“A central capability within the DIPA will co-ordinate specialised teams focused on social, industry, environmental and government efficiency policies.”
Other areas to be analysed include identifying and preventing risk of disability in the workplace, supporting ongoing workforce participation for those with a disability, and better understanding the effects of medications to avoid adverse reactions.
The DIPA will create high-value national data assets to build longitudinal data about populations, businesses, the environment and government to inform the development and evaluation of policies and programs.
The data will be de-identified and analysed in controlled environments governed by strict processes and legislation.
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