The Government of Queensland, the second-largest state in Australia, will partner with Microsoft to bring cloud-based Office 365 to 149,000 government employees, simplifying ICT across agencies and enabling real-time collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The deal will see government employees take up Office 365 for messaging and email and Yammer, the enterprise social network. This new approach to IT services will save the Government AU$13.7 million (US$12.9 million) over three years, Minister for Information Technology, Ian Walker said.

“This is the first whole-of-government contract in Australia to provide the flexibility to move between computer and cloud-based software, making the Queensland Government leaders in this area,” the Minister continued.

“We are moving from a government owned and operated model to one that uses world-class solutions to deliver flexibility that drive innovation and transformation. This is a great example of the government continuing to lower costs through effective partnering with non-government and industry provider,” he added.

Microsoft Australia’s Queensland State Director, Sharon Schoenborn, shared, “Office 365 will underpin better workforce flexibility, mobility and collaboration, and facilitate creative approaches to problem solving.”

“This [partnership] has the potential to see the Queensland Government transform their digital ecosystem and become leaders in the innovation space.”