Popular sessions at the NSW IMM Annual Conference were those relating to the impact of the Year 2000 Bug. Tony Gates, Manager Year 2000 Compliance Project at the NSW Office of Information Technology, told delegates, with less than 500 days to go, it is vital for all organisations, public and private, to recognise they have a problem they must do something about.
“While it is not too late,” he said. “We are running out of time.” He told delegates to plan for the worst case scenario. He believes, without action now, the normal propensity for computers to have problems will be magnified many times over.
“What about your suppliers?” he asked. “Your Compliance Strategy might be fine, but what if those you rely on fall over? How will this impact on your Council? What if your creditors cannot pay? What are your liabilities? Can you afford to take the risk?”
Tony Gates suggests that Councils should take an emergency management approach. He also warns that organisations will have to monitor the problem for some time. It is not merely a January 1 issue.
He suggests Councils form a project team to identify the resources needed and determine the level of risk. The project team should then estimate the size and cost of rectification and prepare a prevention, response and rectification plan.
“This is not a scare campaign,” he said. “Recognise you have a problem and get on and fix it, otherwise you will be exposing yourself and your community. If governments go down, this will impact on all of us.”
For further information access the NSW Government Website at www.y2k.gov.au or call the hotline on 1800 11 2000.
In Victoria, the State Government is also urging Councils, as one of the State’s largest service providers, to be prepared. Its Website at www.Y2K.dsd.vic.gov.au provides a range of information for Councils.
