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Victoria Hosts First-Of-A-Kind Budget Hack

06 April 2016

The Andrews Labor Government has partnered with Code for Australia to run Budget Hack, a digital forum aimed at promoting transparency and helping Victorians better understand government data.

Budget Hack is the first time a Victorian Government has partnered with Code for Australia to start a conversation and present ideas and technology solutions that will make Budget data more community-friendly and easier to understand.

The two-night event, co-hosted by startup Outware, involved staff from the Department of Premier and Cabinet engaging with the tech community and industry leaders on how Victorians could best visualise, use and leverage 2015 Budget data.

National Australia Bank awarded a $700 cash prize to the winning team, Bling My Suburb, who created a way to search the Budget by location.

Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis attended the final night of Budget Hack reiterating the Labor Government’s commitment to engaging in a digital transformation that will lead to greater transparency on all government action.

Code For Australia works closely with governments across the country to provide greater access and understanding between policy makers and the general public. All of their digital tools and programs are open source, which actively encourages networking, collaboration and documentation.

Multiple government agencies are involved in the Code for Australia fellowship program including the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Public Transport Victoria, the Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning, and VicRoads.

Making government data accessible is a key focus of the Labor Government, with a series of data innovation events and workshops planned throughout 2015, including public transport, with the aim of producing in-market digital products by the end of the year.

To access Victorian Government data, visit the Data Victoria website, www.data.vic.gov.auExternal Link .

Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis

"With this year’s budget being brought forward to April 27, Budget Hack provides a great opportunity for us to find innovative digital solutions that will make Budget outcomes easier to understand."

"We don’t pretend to have all the answers which is why we are engaging the industry for events like Budget Hack to help us find new and innovative ways to be a more transparent across government."

Quotes attributable to Code for Australia Managing Director, Jake Lindsey

"We want to make it easier for the community to understand where government money is being spent and what practical impact it is having."

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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