New South Wales’ ambition is a step closer to achieving its goal of becoming the world’s most customer-centric and tech-enabled government owing to an AU$ 536 million funding boost for Service NSW in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
The Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government stated that the funding aims to ensure that Service NSW continues rolling out nation-leading programmes, services and digital solutions, and could continue delivering a customer satisfaction rate of more than 97%.
The Minister noted that Service NSW seeks to ease life for residents by providing a world-class, one-stop-shop service for customers and businesses, and this funding will enable Service NSW to expand its offering. The aim is to centre the customer in all processes; this investment is expected to help deliver a new level of service delivery.
Service NSW is the front door to more than 1,000 government services, and with its additional investment in digital identity and upgrades to the Service NSW app, more of these services will be accessible via a smartphone. These include new products such as the digital birth certificate and the NSW education wallet as well as online renewals of Working with Children Checks, NDIS Worker Checks and occupational licences using photo-matching technology.
Since 2013, Service NSW has opened 112 Service Centres across the State with another five to be opened by 2023. Additionally, two new mobile service centres add to the four currently on the road in regional and rural areas, including across flood-affected regions.
The Minister also noted that Service NSW plays a crucial role in supporting communities in the wake of natural disasters, including the recent floods in the Northern Rivers. This funding will enable Service NSW to continue to provide vital services and support to families and businesses in their hour of need.
The Government’s cost-of-living initiatives continue to deliver new savings and rebates funded through the Budget. Over three million people have accessed the online Savings Finder tool, while Service NSW’s Savings Specialists have carried out more than 100,000 appointments in Service Centres, with an average saving of AU$ 770. Currently, the Service NSW cost-of-living advisory service is in the process of being made accessible and convenient for more families across New South Wales.
It was also noted that digital transformation remained a priority for the Government, with funding allocated for further intakes of Digital Restart Fund (DRF) projects in 2022-23. This funding is from the record AU$ 2.1 billion set aside to invest in digital transformation and cyber uplift projects through the DRF, the Minister added.
The NSW Government’s 2022-2023 Budget aims to deliver a transformational budget that will secure a brighter future for New South Wales by offering steadfast support for families and businesses.
Through this Budget, NSW Government has put forward a transformational roadmap for the decade ahead, delivering not just for our people today, but for generations to come. The Budget forecasts above-trend economic growth of 4¼% for 2022-23 and a return to historically low unemployment of 3½% in the June quarter of next year.
The State is projected to return to surplus in 2024-25 – the same year as forecast in last year’s Budget, despite the Delta and Omicron outbreaks and floods – and that surplus is projected to increase to AU$ 1.4 billion in 2025-26. Net debt is projected to stabilise at about 14% of GSP by June 2026 (compared to a projected 19.8% for Victoria on 30 June 2022) followed by a gradual decline towards the end of the decade.