'The Y2k bug could mean the sack '
Thursday, May 21, 1998
THE MILLENIUM BUG
The Y2k bug could mean the sack
By LEONIE LAMONT
Chief executive officers of State Government agencies have been put on notice
that their jobs are on the line unless they come up with a year 2000 computer bug
risk analysis by the end of June.
Under plans approved by State Cabinet this week, the demands for a risk
analysis will extend to State-owned corporations and trading enterprises, bringing
utilities such as power and water companies under the umbrella.
The Treasurer, Mr Egan, was yesterday awaiting legal advice whether he could
require these corporations to assure banks and the Australian Stock Exchange
that they had minimised, or dealt with the year 2000 risk, and could ensure the
continued supply of essential services.
"There is a lot of community and business expectations. They want to know
what is happening because of its impact on either supply, or other business
issues," said a spokesman for the Minister for Information Technology, Mr
Yeadon.
"In the end, a city's reputation can be affected internationally. It is going to take
Auckland years to recover [from the non year 2000-related power failure] and
we have got too many things happening here in 2000, too many eyes on us."
He said the preparation of the risk analysis would be part of the CEO's
performance measurements. So too would the preparation by September 30 of a
plan B: contingency plans for data recovery.
"The Government has been discussing this issue for long enough with
Government agencies and believes we have given people enough time. This is to
ensure that those that may be dragging the chain a bit, move, and to ensure that
CEOs realise this is their problem," he said.
"This is not just a computer problem, it's a business issue, and the measure of
how good they do their business will be measured by meeting year 2000
deadlines."
Many agencies have been testing their systems. The good news is that the
RTA's tests on traffic lights show they will continue working on January 1, 2000.
The bad news is that the NSW Police are confident that their traffic penalties
and warrants system will be Year 2000 compliant by the end of this year.
The spokesman said the two imperatives for the Government was to ensure the
protection of its revenue base, and health and safety issues. Most of the smaller
agencies appeared to have fewer problems than the large authorities.
The moves come ahead of a State and Federal information technology ministers
meeting in Perth today. State ministers want the Federal Government to fund a
national campaign alerting small business about how to become year 2000
compliant.
smh.com.au |
