The NSW Government's connecting Business Licensing Project is a large and complex across-government Information Technology Project, aligned with the State Plan (P3 - Cutting Red Tape and S8 – Increased Customer Satisfaction), to create a single integrated government licensing system (GLS) for business, professional and some personal licensing.

The Government has placed a high priority on this project to improve the quality and efficiency of licensing, to reduce the 'paperwork nightmare' for small business and to increase consumer protection.

Simplify and improve licensing

The projects key outcomes are: to simplify and improve the licensing process for businesses, professionals and individuals, and licensing agencies; offer online services via the Internet as an additional option to enhanced counter, postal and telephone services; and, to deliver estimated savings of $70 million (Net Present Value) over the project's life in internal infrastructure savings.
The new system is designed to handle up to 4 million licences across 18 agencies (currently using more than 40 different systems to administer around 300 different licence types); 800,000 annual renewals, 1000 internal system users and countless consumers, applicants and licensees.

Lead agencies selected to participate in pilot trials

Several licensing administrations have been selected as the 'lead' agencies for the project - The Office of Fair Trading, Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing and Department of Environment & Climate Change (Parks and Wildlife licences). In October 2005 development of the core GLS was completed. In November 2005 configuration and commissioning of the system to support the first 'pilot' licence, for Valuers Registration from the Office of Fair Trading, was completed.

In July 2006 nine licence types from the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR) were implemented. On 12 March 2007 the Department of Environment and Climate Change started using the system to administer over 17,000 active wildlife related licence records.  On 22 April 2007 OLGR added a further two licence types. More recently, Fair Trading has implemented the GLS for home building & motor vehicle repairers bringing the total number of licence records now supported by the system to over one million spanning a total of 22 licences types. There are also 500 agency users across 26 sites.

Businesses, Professionals and Individuals should visit www.licence.nsw.gov.au to apply for a Valuers Registration or Trade Promotion Lottery permit, renew certain home building contractor and motor vehicle repairer licences or search the public register of charitable fundraising organisations or home building related licensees. Online (internet) usage patterns for applications show 80% take-up for the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing and for renewal of licences 30% take-up for Home Building Services). The GLS will continue rollout to the lead agencies, followed by a further 16 progressively over the next few years.

Australia's first end-to-end licensing system

The project introduces large-scale online licensing to government; rationalises multiple systems and is Australia's first 'end-to-end' system for online processing of applications and renewals for around 300 different business and occupational licence types, professional registrations, certificates and permits. It will capture all of the benefits the Government is striving for in e-government: saving taxpayers money, cutting red tape, improving choice and convenience, and delivering a better service.

A single electronic entry point for licence transactions

For the first time, a single electronic entry point for licence transactions via the Internet will provide the option of renewing or applying for State Government licences via one web site.
Processing times will be reduced and clients will benefit by having the extra choice of completing their transactions from the office or home at any time. Alternatively, they will still be able to make transactions by mail or in person. As well as providing 24hour/7day online licensing services, it will give consumers Web access to public registers and information about companies and licensees.

The GLS will improve the integrity of licensing by enabling automated verification of certain applicant particulars with third party information providers eg Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). It will also introduce photo licences for appropriate trades people and professionals, particularly where consumers need to identify them before granting access to their homes.

What it will mean for business, professionals and individuals

The GLS is intended to provide an improved and more efficient licensing service.

It will feature:

• Access to a consolidated view of all their licences.

• Access to an enhanced Business Licence Information Service (or 'BLIS' as it is currently marketed).

• The ability to self-manage licences and consolidated transactions.

• A choice of 'access' methods, including 24 hour x 7day access via the Internet.

• Respect of all privacy regulations, such that internally within the government there will be no consolidated whole of government view(s) of licences or licensees, agencies will only be able to view those licences and licensees for which they are directly responsible.

What it will mean for government agencies

The GLS will provide government agencies with a more efficient licensing 'platform', allowing them to improve both the level and quality of licensing services to businesses, professionals and individuals (both as licence holders and consumers).

Provide agencies with:

• The ability to manage and 'tailor' the system to meet individual agency licensing needs, yet ensure that businesses, professionals and individuals can have the simplified and improved licensing service outlined above.

• Enhanced security and integrity of licensee particulars, through support of automated source checks on suitability to help prevent fraud and unlicensed practitioners.

• Improved licensing processes. This will require staff trained in new information technology practices, which in turn will support staff diversification, skills enhancement and improved mobility/portability of staff.

• A legislated uniform approach to licensing across government.

For more Information on NSW Government Licensing Project:

Phone John Devlin on  02 9372 8021 

Visit the Government Licensing Service Website: www.licence.nsw.gov.au