Government Opens Up New Information Gateway for Territorians

Territorians will have easier access to a broad range of Government data, with the launch of the NT Open Data Portal, fulfilling a key election commitment.

The Portal currently hosts 250 datasets in a single place, making it easier to find searchable government data free of charge. Datasets will continue to be added to the portal, providing a valuable source of information for businesses and individuals.

As well as supporting innovation, research and information gathering, readily available data also fosters a greater culture of transparency and accountability across Government as well as assisting with evidence-based policy development.

The Open Data Portal is a key action under the first-ever Digital Territory Strategy, recognising its ability to support digital innovation by allowing digital creators to freely use government data to develop new apps and digital services.

The Open Data Portal is hosting a broad range of datasets including:

The Portal will be regularly updated, providing more data for Territorians to access. Requests from the community or industry for new datasets will also be welcomed.

Data will be assessed before being publicly released including against provisions in the Information Act to protect sensitive data and to ensure it is meeting appropriate data standards.

For the first time, participants at the 2019 GovHack Hackathon, being held across Australia in September, will have easy access to government data through the NT Open Data Portal.

This annual event provides participants with open data and problems to solve, raising the profile of using open government data by the community and industry to encourage efficient service delivery and innovation.

The 2019 GovHack Hackathon will be held at the Darwin Innovation Hub and at the Desert Knowledge Australia Precinct in Alice Springs from 6 to 8 September.

The NT Open Data Portal can be accessed at https://data.nt.gov.au

As noted by Minister for Corporate and Information Services, Lauren Moss:

The Portal is one of the key initiatives of the Governments Digital Territory Strategy and Action Plan that sets out a framework that will enable Territorians to make the most of digital technology to create and take on the jobs of the future, to build connections, to reach their potential and to thrive in a digital economy.

As well as encouraging innovation, the exciting thing about the NT Open Data Portal is the ability to share and analyse data to identify trends, reveal causal factors and find insights that can inform policy decisions, improve service delivery and allow us to better understand and appreciate issues and impacts.

Digital technology and easy access to data presents enormous opportunities for us to find new solutions to long-standing challenges, including how we deliver quality services to Territorians across vast distances and business enterprise development in even the most remote parts of the Territory.

The NT Open Data Portal provides non-sensitive government information only. Personal or identifiable information will always be protected and will not be released.

The NT Government is continuing its support of the annual GovHack Hackathon in partnership with Charles Darwin University.

For the first time, GovHack participants will be able to easily access non-sensitive government data through the Portal.

The objective of GovHack is to raise the profile of open government data to encourage efficient service delivery and innovation which aligns with our own Smarter Government election promise to Territorians.

As noted by Northern Territory Director of GovHack, Shanon Loughton:

The NT Open Data Portal will enrich the 2019 GovHack Hackathon and I thank the Territory Government in joining other Australian jurisdictions on the open data journey.

For NT Government agencies, GovHack provides the opportunity to access thousands of hours of free consultation and research. Indeed, many key participants start their research and analysis weeks before the Hackathon.

This may be how bus routes can be planned more efficiently, to ways in which services to remote and regional Territorians can be provided more effectively.

GovHack raises the profile of government data and provides opportunities for citizens and industry to collaborate and gain knowledge and develop new skills.

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