Cost-Benefit Analysis of E-Government: Australia

When people contact the government they can use a variety of channels. That is, they go in person to an office, use a telephone service, access information via the Internet, send a letter, or use a third party. Since the Australian Government first recognised the potential of online technology to improve service delivery in its 1997 Investing for Growth statement, it has articulated its policies and strategies for e-government in a number of papers. E-government involves government agencies delivering better programs and services online through the use of new information and communication technologies. The policy papers included Government Online-The Commonwealth's Strategy, launched in April 2000, and a new framework for e-government, Better Services. Better Government, launched in November 2002. Most recently, the Government released Australia's Strategic Framework for the Information Economy in July 2004. These papers outlined the broad directions and priorities for the future of e-government in Australia, and sought to maintain the momentum of agencies' actions under Government Online. One of its key objectives was for agencies to achieve greater efficiency in providing services and a return on their investments in ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-based service delivery. They also stated that investing in e-government should deliver tangible returns, whether they take the form of cost reductions, increased efficiency and productivity, or improved services to business and the broader community Implementation of the Government policy has led to considerable agency investment in ICT-based service delivery. However government policy also requires managers to ensure that program and service delivery is efficient and effective. Efficient and effective use of ICT has the potential to improve service delivery and to make financial savings. This paper outlines how people are using the channels to contact the government in Australia. It also examines the level of satisfaction they have with those services and their preferences and expectations. In addition, this paper aims at identifying the methods used by Australian Government to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of their delivery of services, and at assessing the adequacy of these methods.