Births, deaths and marriages to go digital
Plans to digitalise six million records relating to births, deaths and marriages in Queensland were announced in Parliament yesterday by Attorney-General Cameron Dick.
Mr Dick said that it was a significant milestone.
“It fulfils a commitment made in last year’s budget when the government committed $20.8 million over five years to digitalise paper records,” he said.
With this program of work any Queenslander who applies for a birth, death or marriage certificate will have a significantly reduced waiting period.
“It will also make it easier for genealogists, researchers and statistical agencies to get access to information and allow the department to introduce online ordering and payment facilities,” he said.
The government’s invitation for offers on this project will be advertised in newspapers and released on the government’s e-tender website.
“The contract is expected to be awarded by the end of August 2010 to allow the successful tenderer to start by early October 2010 and continue over a period of four to five years,” Mr Dick said.
Mr Dick said another significant milestone in relation to marriages was the “spectacular breakdown in the relationship between the Liberal National Party and the
members for Burnett and Beaudesert”.
“It is a symptom of a marriage in deep, deep trouble — a union that was doomed before the ink was dry on the marriage certificate,” Mr Dick said.