DTO launches gov.au prototype

The federal government’s Digital Transformation Office has commenced a project to move multiple government websites onto a single domain.

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor has unveiled a prototype of the gov.au website.

The new site is designed to integrate multiple services across government, guiding people through complex tasks including starting a business, moving house or travelling overseas.

Taylor said the government currently operates over 1000 websites, with information often duplicated and out of date.

“It can be incredibly frustrating to find your way within and across sites, and many of us know this from personal experience,” he said.

The gov.au project is designed to eliminate this duplication while improving ease of use for citizens.

Taylor said the government is taking a cue from the private sector in terms of service transformation. “The private sector has a strong lead on government — just look at the banks and their move over the past decade to bring transactions online,” he said.

“Australians are also undertaking millions of transactions with government every year.  If we make access to government digital channels easier and faster, we will improve uptake of services and the user experience.”

The alpha prototype of the new site is available here, while the DTO expects to launch a public beta in late 2016.