Victoria Strengthens AWS Partnership with AUD $20 Billion Investment in Cloud Services
The Victorian Government has entered into the Australian Whole-of-Government Agreement with Amazon Web Services, enabling state departments to access a range of cloud-based solutions, including artificial intelligence, security, and quantum computing technologies. This agreement serves as the foundation of the AWS State Purchase Contract, specifically tailored to align with Victoria’s policies and requirements. Through this partnership, government agencies can utilise over 240 AWS cloud services, with 164 of these assessed at the PROTECTED level under the Infosec Registered Assessors Program (IRAP). Louise Stigwood, Managing Director for Public Sector, AWS Australia and New Zealand, remarked that this agreement marks a significant milestone in Victoria’s digital journey. By leveraging AWS’s advanced cloud capabilities, the state aims to enhance the delivery of innovative, secure, and cost-effective services that benefit all Victorians. This collaboration builds on AWS’s recent AUD $20 billion investment in Australia, reinforcing their commitment to supporting local economic prosperity through digital transformation in the public sector.
The agreement is designed to accelerate digitisation and innovation across various public services, including emergency communications and the justice system. The utilisation of two AWS cloud regions in Australia—Melbourne and Sydney—enables the development of resilient applications. Systems such as VicTraffic depend on AWS’s multi-region design to ensure continuous operations during emergencies, managing data from over 50 sources with a fully serverless microservices architecture and maintaining recovery times of less than one hour. During high-risk flood and bushfire periods, these standards are further elevated to provide vital, reliable information to the public. The Coroners Court of Victoria has partnered with AWS to integrate artificial intelligence into the justice system, creating a prototype solution using Amazon Bedrock to address immediate needs while paving the way for broader judicial innovation. Judge Cain, State Coroner of Victoria, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, highlighting AWS’s understanding of the unique challenges faced in balancing technological innovation with judicial responsibility. AWS has also established a second cloud infrastructure region in Melbourne, further expanding its national presence and supporting data-residency requirements for government agencies, with an additional AUD $20 billion investment pledged to enhance its infrastructure footprint across Australia.
Categories: Cloud Services, Public Sector Innovation, Infrastructure Investment
Tags: Victorian Government, Amazon Web Services, Cloud Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, Security, Quantum Computing, Digital Transformation, Public Sector, Infrastructure Investment, Emergency Communications