“Digitalization is getting better, faster and higher.” Florian Tursky, the new State Secretary for Digitization and Broadband, attempted a modified motto for the Olympic Games at yesterday’s inaugural press conference.
The politician and Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (both VPs) announced a digital offensive consisting of the pillars of administration, infrastructure and education. As reported, the digitization and broadband agendas moved to the Ministry of Finance three weeks ago after the resignations of Margarete Schramböck and Elisabeth Köstinger.
Brunner said it was important to use the boost in digitization caused by the corona pandemic. “We have seen the enormous need, but we have also been shown where there are still deficits.”
Driver’s license on the phone
The finance minister and the state secretary see these deficits in the administration, among other things. By 2024, almost all administrative procedures in Austria should also be possible online via cell phone, tablet or computer. A digital platform for ID cards of all kinds, such as driver’s licenses or vehicle registration certificates, will play a key role in this. It said that such a platform is being worked on.
However, infrastructure is a prerequisite for the digital turnaround. The nationwide broadband expansion by 2030 is anchored in the government program. The 600 million euro funding call for the second broadband billion has been completed, now it’s time for distribution, said Tursky. Equal opportunities in the regions are important: “It doesn’t have to matter whether someone opens a company in the Paznauntal or in Vienna.”
The third pillar includes the digital competence of society. The government wants to improve this with targeted funding programs. Nine out of ten jobs require digital skills, Tursky noted.
Source: Nachrichten
