ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the history of information technology development in the Australian public sector. It considers the implications of these technological developments for internal relationships within government and governmental relationships with both consumers and citizens. The automation of governmental agencies and programs has been under way for many decades in Australia. This automation has focused primarily on computerising the internal functions of agencies through the use of mainframe and minicomputers, and, most recently, via the use of networked personal computers (PCs). While the initial impact of information technology was in automating existing practices, the more recent information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow for a more radical examination of existing informational relationships within government. Many governments are interested in using ICTs to reshape the relationship between government and public service consumers. ICTs have enabled governments to amass unprecedented amounts of information about citizens, which they are able to share with a wide variety of agencies.
