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Purpose
This QGEA Information Standard outlines the minimum requirements for Queensland Government agencies in the creation, implementation, and management of agency internet sites for the delivery of information and services.
Policy
Agencies will use the internet for the proactive publication and use of government information and explore online options when assessing communication and service delivery strategies. Agencies must comply with the mandatory principles of this Information Standard.
Scope
This Information Standard relates to the information layer of the Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture (QGEA).
Applicability
This Information Standard applies to all public facing internet sites within the gov.au and edu.au domains established by Queensland Government agencies that are required to comply with the Queensland Government Corporate Identity Manual. This Information Standard does not apply to Queensland Government agency websites in the eq.edu.au domain. Websites within the eq.edu.au domain must conform to departmental policy.
An exemption granted by the Department of Premier and Cabinet from the Queensland Government Corporate Identity does not qualify as an exception from this Information Standard. Queensland Government agencies must follow the QGEA exception process to be granted an exception from this Information Standard.
While focused on public-facing internet service delivery, many of the principles in this standard are relevant to intranet and extranet sites.
Issue and review
This QGEA Information Standard is published within the QGEA and is administered by the ICT Policy and Coordination Office (IPCO). It was developed by the IPCO, Online Advisory Group, Smart Service Queensland and Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and approved by the Queensland Government Chief Information Officer on 8 December 2009.
This QGEA Information Standard will be reviewed on a biannual basis. The next review date is December 2011.
Implementation
Implementation of all Mandatory Principles must be complete by December 2010.
IS26 implementation toolbox
Mandatory principles
Mandatory principle 1 - Online presence
Agency internet sites must provide for maximum accessibility and usability for all groups of the community and maintain a consistent and customer focused view of Queensland Government. At a minimum agencies must:
- ensure the use of internet sites and electronic service delivery form part of strategic, tactical and operational planning process
- ensure the implementation of consistent and stable URLs
- review their internet sites on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance with the mandatory principles of this Information Standard
- comply with the Consistent User Experience (CUE) Standard
- comply with the Queensland Government Corporate Identity, unless an exemption is granted by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- recognise that customers may access online content using assistive technologies due to disability, impairment or preference by consideration of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (V2.0) and ensure the following conformance levels:
- A Level conformance with Guideline 1.2
- AA Level conformance with all other Guidelines
- ensure that content design balances the need for quality and minimal file download times with particular consideration for customers with lower bandwidth or poor telecommunications infrastructure
- recognise the diversity of devices, configurations, and preferences of consumers of internet content (including reasonable range of browsers, internet-enabled devices and assistive technologies such as screen-readers)
- provide a website search capability as required by the CUE Standard
- remain aware of compliance obligations, perform risk assessments and seek appropriate approvals before proceeding with the implementation of emerging technologies.
Mandatory principle 2 - Operational management
Agencies must ensure appropriate operational management, recordkeeping, security and privacy processes are in place for the maintenance of internet sites. At a minimum agencies must:
- ensure the currency, accuracy, suitability and quality of internet sites information through the implementation of authorisation and monitoring processes (see also Principle 3 - Content requirements)
- ensure consistency with regulatory and legislative requirements including the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld), the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), the Public Records Act 2002 (Qld), the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) and relevant QGEA Information Standards when managing web records
- ensure processes are in place to continually improve internet sites through performance monitoring and management of customer feedback and information requests
- assess their web security requirements and develop policies and controls to manage all aspects of online activities as required by QGEA Information Standard 18: Information Security (IS18)
- ensure site archival procedures for internet content meet the requirements of QGEA Information Standard 40: Recordkeeping (IS40)
- notify the Online Services Unit (Smart Service Queensland) via email onlineservices@smartservice.qld.gov.au as well as any major stakeholders of referring sites when launching new or significantly redeveloped internet sites
- ensure external vendors are aware of their obligations by including references to this standard in tender specifications, service level agreements or contracts where management of websites is outsourced
- have appropriate website management procedures in place to maintain current, accurate and high-quality online information and services including:
- authorisation and approval processes for the creation and publishing of information and its terms of use (refer to Licensing of government information published on agency websites below)
- processes to ensure the ongoing currency and accuracy of all online information including email addresses and telephone numbers
- processes to routinely check and manage links across the website
- processes to check that the site continues to meet the accessibility and usability requirements.
Mandatory principle 3 - Content requirements
Agency internet sites must facilitate the routine disclosure and active dissemination of information and provide a current view of Queensland Government. At a minimum, agency internet site content must:
- recognise the literacy and language needs of customers
- include information that falls within the classes of information identified within the agency's publication scheme
- include a disclosure log
- include current contact information
- include privacy and security statements that are consistent with the Information Privacy Act 2009 throughout websites and web applications
- present copyright notices in a manner and location that provides customers with reasonable notice of the claim of copyright ownership
- include disclaimer notices that are a part of the website content and not simply link to, and use another agency's disclaimer notice
- when linking to non-Queensland Government information, ensure that:
- notices are provided to clearly separate non-Queensland Government information resources from government publishing activity
- links to commercial sites do not provide any implicit endorsement or commercial advantage and do not exhibit any ethical or political bias
- risk assessments are conducted when linking to non-Queensland Government content
- comply with the QGEA Government Information Licensing Framework (GILF) Guideline requirements for the placement of licence markings.