Thursday, 8 February 2024

 Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (11:13): I am delighted to rise and lead the opposition’s response on the Service Victoria Amendment Bill 2023. I want to briefly go over some of the background of the bill and some of the key changes that we can expect to see. But first can I place on record that we will not be opposing this bill, although we do have some concerns. I will go through them, and maybe some of those concerns can be addressed by speakers on the other side. I hope that is the case and we can resolve those during the course of the debate.

The Service Victoria Amendment Bill 2023 is a legislative proposal designed to introduce reforms and enhancements to the existing Service Victoria Act 2018 with the overarching goal of optimising the delivery of government services for all Victorians. What this will provide is what is called end-to-end service delivery, and I will explain that in detail a bit further down in my contribution, as others will. But most importantly this bill seeks to address various aspects related to the operation, scope and integration of Service Victoria, and thankfully the Victorian government has finally committed to streamlining access to this essential service and fostering greater efficiency.

The objective of the Service Victoria Amendment Bill is to bolster the effectiveness and the accessibility of Service Victoria, a central platform established to provide a wide array of government services in a user-friendly consolidated manner. Currently there are 104 uses of Service Victoria within your digital wallet. Others will talk about this I am sure, but the digital wallet is certainly coming of age, not only since COVID but in the latest technology. It really is important, and many have their fishing licence and other licences – their shooting licence and lots of other things that you can do in your digital wallet – and this will certainly expand what the opportunities are through Service Victoria. Through amendments to the existing legislative framework the bill aims to reinforce the capabilities of Service Victoria in delivering these services, ranging from licensing and permits to registrations and other administrative functions which cater to the diverse needs of consumers and businesses across Victoria. Key provisions within the bill are anticipated to introduce changes to Service Victoria, aligning it with existing technological advancements and changing the landscape of public service delivery.

One of the central themes of this legislative initiative is the expansion of the service offerings available through Service Victoria in areas such as digital identity management; permit applications, which will be important; payment services of course; and access to relevant information and resources ‍– a broadening of the scope of services. The bill attempts to consolidate contrasting government functions into one accessible platform which simplifies interaction between individuals, businesses and government entities. We know that Victoria is well behind the rest of Australia, or the rest of the eastern seaboard that is for sure, in this area. New South Wales and Queensland have forged well ahead and now have in place robust and fully transparent systems that allow members of those two states great access to their own personal data and access to personal licences as well.

This bill is poised to integrate upgrades and functionalities into Service Victoria, reflecting a forward-looking approach to service delivery, which is what we need. This may involve the adoption of advanced digital infrastructure, innovative data management systems and enhanced user interface designs, all aimed at fostering a seamless user experience for those engaging with Service Victoria. The bill will also encompass provisions for the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to augment the efficiency and precision of the service delivery process, ultimately enhancing the overall efficiency of Service Victoria.

In addition to these advancements, the bill will introduce measures to bolster data security, privacy protection and governance protocols within the Service Victoria framework. When we talk about governance and privacy protection, they are significant concerns that I will touch on a little later in my contribution. Even though my contribution will be truncated very shortly, I will go into it before I finish my report. Given the importance of safeguarding sensitive personal and business-related information, the legislative amendments will prioritise the implementation of cybersecurity measures, data encryption standards and compliance frameworks, and will try to fortify the resilience of Service Victoria against potential threats and vulnerabilities. Let us hope that these provisions underscore the government’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of data security and privacy in the digital service delivery landscape, because we have seen so many government initiatives not deliver what they were intended to do.

The Service Victoria Amendment Bill 2023 has the emphasis on stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms, with a collaborative approach to shaping the future and direction of Service Victoria. The bill will also incorporate provisions for regular consultations with community representatives, industry stakeholders and end users to solicit insights, preferences and suggestions for refining and expanding the range of services offered through Service Victoria.

The legislative amendments aim to ensure that Service Victoria evolves in tandem with the evolving needs and aspirations of its user base, driving continuous improvement and innovation within the platform. Yay! That is a great thing to finally happen. The proposals within the Service Victoria Amendment Bill underline what Victorians needed for accessibility and inclusion and aim to mitigate barriers to access and usage for individuals with diverse needs and circumstances. This will involve provision for the integration of assistive technologies –

The SPEAKER: Order! The time has come for me to suspend the house in accordance with the resolution of the house.

I acknowledge the former member for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire in the gallery.

Sitting suspended 11:20 am until 11:33 am.

Business interrupted under resolution of house of 15 November 2023, as amended on 28 November 2023 and 6 February 2024.

The SPEAKER: I would like to welcome everyone to today’s special sitting. I remind visitors that mobile phones must be on silent and no photography is allowed.