This year’s NSW budget will contain more than $700 million to boost cyber security and digitise courts, planning and regional schools.

The state budget will be handed down on November 17.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said improving the state’s digital capabilities would drive efficiencies and save money.

“COVID-19 has shown us just how important it is to have the digital infrastructure and the skills to match for a modern flexible society,” she said in a statement.

The allocated funding includes a $366 million investment in the digital capability of regional schools, including training for teachers on how to integrate digital tools into the classroom and providing distance education platforms for students.

More than $54 million will go towards the Digital Courts Reform project to bring court proceedings online and digitise court files.

 There’s almost $56 million for the next phase of the transition to ePlanning and $17.5 over two years for the Assured Revenue program to make the lodgement and collection of revenue simpler.

Cyber security gets a $240 million boost over three years, including $60 million for the government’s cyber secrurity office Cyber Security NSW.

The funding will ensure the customer remains at the centre of digital government, customer service minister Victor Dominello said.

“This funding will empower us to enter a new frontier,” Mr Dominello said in a statement.

“Whether it’s transforming the way we teach children in regional and remote schools, or bolstering our cyber security systems, this investment sends the community a strong message that we are putting the customer at the centre of everything we do.”

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