8 October 2013

Dunne Concerned Local it Firms Shut Out of IRD Transformation

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is expressing concern at reports that local IT firms are being shut out of a lead role in Inland Revenue’s business transformation programme.

As Minister of Revenue Mr Dunne oversaw the development of the business transformation programme from its conception in 2010 until his resignation in June this year.

He says it was always his intention that local firms would have a major role in the process, and he would be “extremely disappointed” if this was not now to be the case.

“All the work we did in terms of developing and strengthening Inland Revenue’s relationships and working links with the local IT industry were about preparing for the role they could play in the business transformation programme.

“I was all for giving them the opportunity to show what they were capable of, and said so on many occasions.

“I also understood this was the view of the Prime Minister as well,” he says.

Mr Dunne says he is “instinctively wary of putting all the business transformation eggs in the basket of a large international provider”, although he accepts there will be significant parts of the programme where international input will be required.

“It is about striking the right balance, to ensure we are able to use domestic capability where we can, and my understanding is that has been Inland Revenue’s view to date as well.

“I hope nothing has changed in the last four months, and that there has been no change of heart by either the Government or Inland Revenue.

“Inland Revenue’s business transformation programme is a major project, and I hope local suppliers will be able to play a significant role within it,” he says.

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