Digital Local Government program

The Australian Government's $17.1 million Digital Local Government program provides funding to local governments in communities that are among the first to benefit from the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The program encourages local government to develop of online services that are replicable and scalable, and that other local governments across Australia can adapt and use. It helps local governments to deliver innovative online services—to homes and businesses. It has the potential to encourage big improvements in the quality, availability and speed of local government services.

The Digital Local Government program is contributing to the Australian Government's vision that Australia will become a leading global digital economy by 2020. In particular, the program contributes to the Digital Economy Goal that, by 2020, four out of five Australians will choose to engage with government through online services. More details about this vision are available in the National Digital Economy Strategy:

www.nbn.gov.au/digitaleconomystrategy

Digital Local Government Program—Round three

On 10 May 2012 the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy released guidelines for round three of the Digital Local Government program. These call for the next 11 eligible Australian councils to submit project business cases for funding by 14 September 2012.

Councils eligible under round three are required to notify the department by 5 July 2012 of their intentions to participate in the program. See the guidelines and the list of eligible councils for details.

Digital Local Government Program—Round two

On 15 December 2011, the minister released guidelines for round two of the Digital Local Government program. Twenty Australian councils were eligible to apply for funding under round two.

Digital Local Government Program—Round one

On 19 October 2011, the minister released guidelines for round one of the Digital Local Government program. Eight Australian councils were eligible to apply for funding under round one.

Videoconferencing Services Panel

In response to requests from local governments in National Broadband Network early-release areas, the department has established a panel of videoconferencing service providers with the capability and expertise to provide NBN-enabled online videoconferencing solutions.

The aim of the panel is to provide expertise to help local, state and federal government agencies to deliver enhanced interactive online services which take full advantage of the high-speed broadband connectivity of the NBN.

Councils eligible to apply for Digital Local Government program funding will be able to use this panel to select and procure videoconferencing service providers to assist with projects to deliver a range of benefits, including better community consultation and more effective use of council resources.

To date, the following companies have been included on the Videoconferencing Services Panel:

Broadreach Services Pty Ltd	Comscentre Pty Ltd
Electroboard Solutions Pty Ltd	Ethan Group Pty Ltd
Evidence Technology Holdings Pty Ltd	Fredon Industries Pty Ltd
NEC Australia Pty Ltd	Vantage Systems Pty Ltd

The department expects to shortly announce the inclusion on the panel of additional companies selected through the recent tender process.

Further information on the Videoconferencing Services Panel is available from the department by emailing videoservicespanel@dbcde.gov.au

Program background

For more information on the Digital Local Government program, please refer to the program factsheet.

To ask a question regarding the Digital Local Government program, or to add your contact details to the mailing list to receive program updates, please email digitallocalgov@dbcde.gov.au or telephone 02 6271 7056.