Managing our information resources

Information is a valuable resource and, like all valuable resources, it needs to be managed responsibly.

Within Treasury, information management includes all the systems and processes we have in place (email, paper, online documents and other sources of information) that enable us to create and share corporate knowledge.

We understand an integrated and holistic approach is needed to achieve best practice in information management and must involve people, processes, procedures, technology and content.

Information Management Steering Committee

The Information Management Steering Committee provides leadership and direction to ensure Treasury collects, stores, manages and uses information in a way that facilitates service delivery.

Future focus areas for the Committee include:

• improving information management governance practices
• ensuring more effective use of data and records management
• adopting information technologies which deliver corporate benefit and assist information management best practice.

Information Management Steering Committee members

• David Ford, Deputy Under Treasurer (Chair)
• Chris Turnbull, Executive Director, Portfolio Services
• Helen Harris, Secretariat, Portfolio Services
• John Hand, Insurance Commissioner, Office of the Insurance Commissioner
• Tim Barker, Director, Office of Economic and Statistical Research
• Tony Kulpa, Deputy Commissioner, Office of State Revenue
• Drew Ellem, Director, Treasury Office
• Mike Sarquis, Executive Director, Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation
• Gerald Schmidt, Director, Office of Government Owned Corporations
• Des Hall, Director, Communication and Information, Portfolio Services
• Rein Van Vliet, Director, Information and Communication Technology, Portfolio Services
• Queensland Government Chief Information Office representative

Information standards

Information standards help agencies acquire, develop, manage, support and use the store of information, information systems and technology at their disposal to support business processes which drive service delivery. These standards are published and maintained by the Chief Information Office in the Department of Public Works.

Treasury plays its part by implementing and reviewing whole-of-Government standards and directives for a range of information management needs such as security, privacy, recordkeeping, information and communication technology (ICT), business continuity planning and procurement. In 2007–08, new policies and/or best practice guides were developed for:

• complaints management
• business continuity management (planning that allows agencies to restore normal business operations)
• use of ICT facilities and devices
• metadata (which allows information to be searched and retrieved)
• custodianship (the responsibilities that apply to information owners).

Document and records management

In the future, Treasury will be faced with an ever-increasing volume of information, and increased expectations to make that information freely available.

To meet this challenge, Treasury developed a new Strategic Recordkeeping Implementation Plan in 2007–08. This plan also reinforced Treasury’s commitment to progressing compliance with the Public Records Act 2002 and Information Standard 40 – Recordkeeping.

Treasury’s Document and Records Management (DRM) Program continues to lead the way in implementing the whole-of-Government Electronic Document and Records Management System (eDRMS).

The implementation is tailored for each portfolio office in response to its business needs, current recordkeeping environment and resource availability. The DRM Program team will complete the implementation of the eDRMS in Treasury in 2008–09.

Implementation of the eDRMS is complemented by a new DRM Audit Strategy which evaluates Treasury’s recordkeeping practices to identify opportunities for improving Treasury’s management of information and delivery of services.

Last reviewed 22 October 2012