Interview — Sky News Live Afternoon Agenda with Kieran Gilbert

Topics: The Government’s Digital Government Services Agenda, NDIS Reforms, Faith.

E&OE

KIERAN GILBERT:

We are joined by a senior minister in the Government, the Minister for Employment Stuart Robert. Minister, one of the responsibilities you have is digital reform within the Government which you spoke about today. So your role is about providing a bit of continuity and coherence, and correct me if I'm wrong, in, that's your argument in terms of federal and state governments and how they interact with the community is that a fair way to put it?

MINISTER ROBERT:

What happened in COVID, Kieran, is that the digital literacy of Australians, and of governments, leapt forward five years in eight weeks which was quite extraordinary, and Australian citizens now expect services to be delivered digitally. And they expect to be able to deliver services and receive services in one place, not have to go to 14 different government departments. So what we're talking about this morning, what the speech was all about was to say the federal government will now be citizen centric, we will build services around the citizen, and we'll work with our state and territory partners in this to share as much data, align ourselves on frameworks, share as much tech, so we can serve citizens equally involved together.

KIERAN GILBERT:

So if you're a citizen in, in Victoria that you can go to this ‘myGov’ website that will link to the federal government but via that they can also have a gateway for this state, potentially?

MINISTER ROBERT:

There's 20 million Australians that use myGov that and other digital channels two and a half million Australians on average are using them every single day, during COVID the numbers went up to 3 million per day, it's huge. We already deliver services for the Victorian Government through myGov, but the opportunity exists to be able to authenticate through to myGov and see all of their services federally. There may be an opportunity for them to see some of the state government services or to move from one channel to another, but it's that level of really strong digital cooperation we want and we can see that all the states and territories are working really well together. 

KIERAN GILBERT:

And would it be a mechanism by which you could generate broader reforms in the Federation because we know, for years, it's been a problem getting that smooth interaction between federal and state and that there's been a lot of duplication of services and so on. Is this a way to try and smooth that out through tech reforms? 

MINISTER ROBERT:

It is a great way to share, so already the states and territories have agreed on a single API or application programming interface so how we share data, so a single set of standards, we're agreeing on a single trusted digital identity function for digital identity, I'm encouraging the states and territories to align on digital licenses. There's no point each state and territory doing their own digital license. If they don't talk to the opportunity so it’s a perfect opportunity to align. And why would the states and territories want to replicate the spend the federal government does there is a lot of opportunity for efficiency here. 

KIERAN GILBERT:

So for a citizen, it would mean best case scenario you have one website you go to and you can basically find out everything you need in terms of dealing with the government at any level that would be your ideal scenario?

MINISTER ROBERT:

For federally, absolutely. ServicesNSW has the ServicesNSW app, an outstanding app. Victor Dominello is the minister, a very clever chap and you just go to that app for all of your interactions and service delivery with NSW. That's where the federal government will go with myGov. 

One digital channel, one app for all of your interactions with the federal government and great opportunity to share data between those frameworks between state and federal.

KIERAN GILBERT:

I spoke to Bill Shorten earlier in the program, and he was very critical of your role as former NDIS Minister that has overseen these independent assessments. He says basically 430,000 people are going to be reinterviewed on for their payments is that unfair?

MINISTER ROBERT:

Well Mr Shorten spoke at the Press Club he offered no new money, he spoke about finding ‘efficiencies’ so Mr Shorten should probably come clean about the cuts he's proposing. Because when Labor talks ‘efficiencies’, they're talking cuts. The government is moving on independent assessments because that's what the Productivity Commission recommended. That's what the father of the scheme John Walsh, appointed by Labor to the Productivity Commission, recommended. That's the way we get equity and fairness, and that's how we stop Australians spending $150 million a year of their own money, getting their own reports to justify their own position in the scheme. 

KIERAN GILBERT:

You're very good friends with the Prime Minister he referenced you in a speech to a churches conference and spoke about his own faith and so on. What did you make of the remarks and can you explain when he says, he was praying for people and he lay his hands on them or that sort of message to those non-believers or those of us who don't share that particular faith, explain the thinking of it? 

MINISTER ROBERT:

It was great from the PM. He spoke to 1800 church pastors in the same way he speaks to many faith communities, and he spoke to them about what's important, asked for help in terms of values for Australians. And if you look at how the Prime Minister engages with Australians, and he does, he’ll chat with them, he’ll pray with them, and Kieran there is nothing wrong in seeking permission but coming to Australians and saying you know what, we love you, we care for you, we want to pray for you. So I think that's really powerful. I think it's really valuable. 

KIERAN GILBERT:

So basically it's embracing someone and saying a prayer for them? 

MINISTER ROBERT:

There is nothing more engaging than to reach out and connect with other human beings and Australians really appreciate when the Prime Minister says you know what, you’re of value to me, you matter to me. Can I pray for you?  Can I help you?  Can we talk?  Do you need a hug? I think that is superb. 

KIERAN GILBERT:

Stuart Robert. I’ll reach out for you. Thank you. 

MINISTER ROBERT:

A pleasure thanks Kieran.

[ENDS]