Government IT
ACT government defends seeking access to Canberrans' metadata
![The metadata received by the ACT government "was used to inform investigations into active non-compliance with ...](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/e/j/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmgjog.png/1454641402203.jpg)
Tom McIlroy The ACT government has defended its right to seek access to Canberrans' private phone and internet records without a warrant.
Troubled myGov to be taken from Human Services
![MyGov was launched in 2013 and is now used by several million Australians.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/6/m/p/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmfoe3.png/1454328556534.png)
Noel Towell Malcolm Turnbull's DTO has been critical of myGov, now it has the chance to show it can do better.
Jingle bills: Centrelink wrongly hits 70,000 families for up to $726 each
![Centrelink has blamed a computer glitch for the incorrect bills.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/1/i/m/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gm18jy.png/1454977994418.jpg)
Noel Towell Computer glitch blamed as welfare agency hits tens of thousands with bills for money that is not owed.
Scrap the fax: Public service's new war
![ACT Health is working with the DTO to reduce burdensome scheduling procedure.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/o/v/8/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glzk3n.png/1452040245655.jpg)
Phillip Thomson Archaic technology wasting time for Canberrans is in the target of new federal agency.
Politwoops returns as Twitter reverses decision to block transparency watchdog
![Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has announced the return of Politiwoops.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/1/z/r/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxoe4.png/1452223993706.jpg)
Karen Workman Politwoops will once again be able to collect and publish the deleted tweets of politicians around the world after Twitter announced that it reached a deal with the organisations that run the website.
Centrelink's IT meltdown hits disability pension
![More than 800,000 Australians are being paid disability pensions of about $800 a fortnight.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/s/e/w/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gls7ls.png/1450926717142.jpg)
Noel Towell Centrelink's tech woes disrupts Disability Pension medical crackdown.
Centrelink apologises for web welfare shutdown
![Centrelink clients have vented their fury over the welfare agency's customer service performance.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/5/2/s/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glnyg2.png/1453708560947.jpg)
Noel Towell Centrelink clients around Australia are furious over missing payments.
Caution is 'holding the APS back'
![Outgoing secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Michael Thawley pictured earlier this year. He ...](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/u/5/o/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gli1ay.png/1449706775610.jpg)
Phillip Thomson A report has revealed stunning examples of public service inefficiency when it comes to releasing and managing data.
Queensland can't sue for health payroll bungle: judge
![IBM challenged the lawsuit](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/5/1/s/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhmpr.png/1449470230842.jpg)
The Queensland government's lawsuit against IBM Australia over the disastrous health payroll system has stalled, after the Supreme Court upheld a legal challenge by the technology giant.
Qld can't sue IBM for health payroll bungle
![Queensland launched action against IBM in 2013, But a legal challenge by IBM was upheld on Monday.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/5/1/s/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhiak.png/1449467722026.jpg)
The Queensland government's lawsuit against IBM Australia over the disastrous health payroll system has stalled after the Supreme Court upheld a legal challenge by the technology giant.
Bureau of Meteorology computers breached, ABC reports
![Dr Rob Vertessy CEO of the Bureau of Meteorology .](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/x/7/s/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gldc9j.png/1449042631672.jpg)
Ben Grubb Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has reportedly had its computer systems breached.
ATO boosts service access via app and voice authentication
![The ATO's voice identification system can be used with its app.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/f/c/7/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glcc1i.png/1448945920408.jpg)
Claire Connelly The ATO has announced it will extend its voice authentication system to its mobile app
Education
Code Club gets $1 million birthday present
![Code Club Australia says new funding will help it extend its reach into rural and regional areas.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/c/7/f/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glc6j3.png/1448935467375.jpg)
Claire Connelly On the eve of its first birthday, an Australian non-for-profit facilitating digital literacy in school-aged children just received a million present from the federal government and the Telstra Foundation.
Phoenix rises from the ashes to battle Aussie bushfires
![Called Phoenix, this software is proving to be indispensable for fighting bushfires.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/4/2/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glb3xd.png/1448848962321.jpg)
Bennett Ring Firefighters and planners are using an Australian-made bushfire simulator to help them do their job.
ID fraudsters attack ATO at least 11,000 times in one year
![Identity fraudsters have targeted the ATO more than 11,000 times in the 2014-15 financial year in an attempt to steal ...](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/0/9/d/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkphps.png/1447980210032.jpg)
Noel Towell, Lisa Cox The ATO has been targeted more than 11,000 times by identity fraudsters attempting to steal tax refunds in 2014-15.
Open data to public use, catch up with the world
![<i></i>](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/n/q/7/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gknpa3.png/1454704848625.jpg)
Stephen Bartos Public servants need to ditch the control and encourage entrepreneurship.
The APS's 'gap in capability'
![Digital Transformation Office chief executive Paul Shetler has previously said the government was 'failing' its customers.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/l/w/l/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkldim.png/1451998754885.jpg)
Phillip Thomson State of the Service report outlines the major hurdle to digital reform.
Tax refunds targeted by cyber crims
![The ATO says 1000 tax refunds, totalling $9 million, have had to be cancelled.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/e/3/a/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkjjz7.png/1445989604976.jpg)
Noel Towell and Lisa Cox Tens of thousands of taxpayers forced to wait for refunds amid suspicion of identity theft.
Public service to ban paper in boxes
![A crackdown on hard-copy paperwork has been announced.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/a/x/c/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkjpyf.png/1446287652842.jpg)
Phillip Thomson One powerful agency head warns against "tyranny of small person" as sweeping reforms released for public service.
Centrelink blames smartphone apps for 60,000 blocked calls a day
![Centrelink clients have vented their fury over the welfare agency's customer service performance.](/web/20160214103156im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/5/2/s/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkgmeo.png/1453708560947.jpg)
Noel Towell Centrelink blocked 22m phone calls last year, with smartphone apps blamed for inflating the figures.