Data and Digital Ministers' Meeting

Data and technology are changing how Australians live, work and prosper. Australians expect governments to meet the highest standards of service delivery; to protect their data, privacy and security; to offer a wide choice in accessing services; and to account for diverse needs.

The Australian Digital Council (ADC) was originally established in September 2018 to facilitate better cross-government collaboration on data and digital transformation, and to create better services and policy outcomes for all Australians. In August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) elevated the ADC to a COAG Council to identify and drive digital transformation and drive data collaboration between jurisdictions.

On 29 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced that COAG would cease, National Cabinet would continue and a new National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) would be formed. A diagram of the Federal Relations Architecture is here. National Cabinet also commissioned a review of all former COAG Councils and ministerial forums to rationalise and reset their structure and work program.

On 23 October 2020, National Cabinet accepted in full the recommendations of the Review of COAG Councils and Ministerial Forums, and approved a new, streamlined intergovernmental architecture, reducing and merging former Ministerial Forums to focus on key federation priorities.

In recognition of the critical role of data and technology, the re-named Data and Digital Ministers’ Meeting was announced as a regular, ongoing ministers meeting under the new federal relations architecture. The Data and Digital Ministers’ Meeting is chaired by the Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services, representing the Commonwealth and includes ministerial representation from all Australian states and territories, and New Zealand.

Data and Digital Ministers are working to align policies and services across Australia by focusing on:

• Transforming government services around life events
• Reforming cross-jurisdictional data and digital platforms, services and protocols
• Enhancing government capability to build public trust and deliver digitally
• Delivering a seamless digital identity experience for citizens

Further information about National Federation Reform Council

Terms of Reference

Australian Data and Digital Council Terms of Reference

Meeting Outcomes

• Meeting 13 - 26 February 2021
• Meeting 12 - 13 November 2020
• Meeting 11 - 4 September 2020
• Meeting 10 - 31 July 2020
• Meeting 9 - 26 June 2020
• Meeting 8 - 29 May 2020
• Meeting 7 - 1 May 2020
• Meeting 6 - 2 April 2020
• Meeting 5 - 6 December 2019
• Meeting 4 - 6 September 2019
• Meeting 3 – 5 April 2019
• Meeting 2 – 7 December 2018
• Meeting 1 – 14 September 2018