Digital Government Outlook 2026: Australia
Table of contents
This country note presents an overview of the digital government landscape in Australia drawing on the results of the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and the 2025 OECD OURdata Index. The note outlines key policy developments in the country observed during the assessment period. It aims to inform policy dialogue and support Australia in advancing a whole-of-government approach to digital transformation in the public sector.
In the 2025 edition of the OECD Digital Government Index, Australia attained a score of 0.88, above the OECD average of 0.70. This represents a 0.13 increase since 2023 (Figure 1).
Australia recorded higher scores in Digital by Design (1.00), User-Driven (0.95), Government as a Platform (0.91), Data-driven Public Sector (0.88) and Proactiveness (0.88), compared with OECD averages of 0.75, 0.71, 0.71, 0.74 and 0.67, respectively. These results show that Australia has advanced in integrating digital technologies into public sector operations, placing user needs at the centre of service design, and developing shared platforms for government-wide use.
Australia scored above the OECD average in Open by Default (0.67 vs 0.59), though this remains its comparatively lowest-scoring dimension. This suggests that Australia could further strengthen its efforts in promoting the openness and transparency of government data and processes.
In the 2025 edition of the OECD OURdata Index, Australia attained a score of 0.29, below the OECD average of 0.53 (Figure 2). This represents a 0.04 decrease since 2023.
Australia scored below the OECD average across all three pillars: 0.43 in Data availability, 0.26 in Data accessibility and 0.19 in Government support for data re-use, compared with OECD averages of 0.53, 0.67 and 0.40, respectively. Data availability (0.43) remains the relatively strongest pillar, though challenges persist across all dimensions of open government data provision.
Lower scores were recorded in Government support for data re-use (0.19) and Data accessibility (0.26). This suggests that Australia has significant room for improvement in strengthening mechanisms to promote data re-use and in enhancing the accessibility of government datasets through open formats and metadata standards.
Australia has established a comprehensive digital government governance structure. The Digital Transformation Agency leads digital policy under the Data and Digital Government Strategy (2023). Co-ordination is ensured through the Data and Digital Ministers Meeting with all states, territories, and New Zealand, supported by the Secretaries Digital and Data Committee, with external input from the Services Australia Independent Advisory Board and the National Data Advisory Council.
A multi-layered approach to digital talent in the public service has been developed in Australia. The Digital Professional Stream Strategy and the Australian Public Service (APS) Workforce Strategy aim to lift digital expertise, complemented by the Data Profession strategy for data-specific capabilities. Together, these frameworks define career pathways, promote diversity and mobility, and support the attraction and retention of digital talent across the Australian Public Service.
Systematic mechanisms to measure user needs across the service lifecycle are in place in Australia. The Digital Experience Policy and Digital Service Standard require user-centred assessment at all development stages. The Investment Oversight Framework (IOF) is structured around six key functions – referred to as ‘states’ – that cover the entire investment project lifecycle, while the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments supports agencies in planning and implementing fit for purpose assurance arrangements. The IOF evaluates digital investments against digital and ICT policy criteria including the Digital Experience Policy and the Digital Service Standard. The IOF assurance framework ensures ongoing adherence to usability, accessibility, and user-centred design throughout delivery.
While Australia performs strongly across most dimensions of AI in government, its transparency framework could be further developed. In particular, an open register or equivalent disclosure mechanism for AI tools used in public decision-making is not yet in place. Establishing such instruments could strengthen public trust and accountability.
Australia’s digital investment framework is well developed across areas such as project management, evaluation, GovTech and ex-post cost-benefit analysis. However, a dedicated fund for digital and ICT projects is not yet reported at the government level. Targeted financing mechanisms could further bolster Australia’s strategic prioritisation and long-term planning of digital transformation initiatives currently progressed through the Digital Investment Overview and Digital Investment Planning.
The OECD Digital Government Outlook (DGO) provides a comprehensive assessment of digital government policies across OECD Members and accession candidate countries. It draws on the results of the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and the 2025 OECD Open, Useful and Re-usable Data (OURdata) Index to evaluate progress and identify persistent gaps in digital transformation across the public sector.
The DGI assesses the enabling foundations for digital transformation across six dimensions: Digital by Design, Data-driven Public Sector, Government as a Platform, Open by Default, User-Driven and Proactiveness. Rather than measuring the digitalisation of specific services, the DGI focuses on the strategies, policy levers, implementation practices and monitoring mechanisms that enable coherent, whole-of-government digital transformation.
The OURdata Index benchmarks the robustness of open government data policies across three pillars: data availability, data accessibility and government support for data re-use. It supports policymakers in monitoring the design and implementation of national open government data policies.
Both indices were developed with OECD Member countries through the OECD Working Party of Senior Digital Government Officials (E-Leaders) and approved by the OECD Public Governance Committee.
Figure 1: The 2025 DGI OECD average does not include Germany and the United States. 2025 data cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. The 2023 OECD average does not include Germany, Greece, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States. 2023 data cover the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 October 2022. The composite score is the unweighted average of the six-dimension scores.
Figure 2: The 2025 and 2023 OURdata Index OECD average does not include Denmark, Hungary and the United States. 2025 data cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. 2023 data cover the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. The composite score is the unweighted average of the three-pillar scores.
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The full book is available in English: OECD (2026), Digital Government Outlook 2026: From Foundations to Transformational Impact, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/0496b2bc-en.
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