Victor Dominello launches Government 3.0 on AI in public service

Former NSW minister Victor Dominello has launched Government 3.0: A Vision for Public Service in the Age of AI in Sydney, positioning the book as a roadmap for public servants and policymakers navigating AI, data and digital transformation. The book argues government should use technology to improve service, protect citizens and build trust rather than deepen surveillance or exclusion.

Why it matters: - Government 3.0 targets a major shift in how public services are designed and delivered as AI becomes more central to government operations. - The book argues that digital transformation should make government more accountable for citizens’ time, not just public spending. - The release lands as governments face pressure to modernize aging systems without weakening privacy, trust or security.

What happened: - The Hon. Victor Dominello launched Government 3.0: A Vision for Public Service in the Age of AI in Sydney on Thursday, Oct. 8. - Dominello is the former NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital and was the driving force behind the Service NSW app and the $2.1 billion Digital Restart Fund. - The book is positioned as a roadmap for policymakers, public administrators and others interested in the future of governance and service delivery.

The details: - Government 3.0 traces the evolution of government from paper-based bureaucracy to intelligent, proactive service. - The book argues AI and data in government should help ensure vulnerable people do not fall through the cracks. - Dominello says governments must harness digital tools in ways that serve citizens, protect data and prevent exclusion. - The book proposes a restructuring of government aimed at building trust and using data and technology to protect and empower vulnerable people. - Dominello says collaboration matters because external challenges are interconnected and government responses must be, too. - Dominello’s framework uses the SPRITE principles: Security, Privacy, Resilience, Inclusion, Transparency and Ethics. - Dominello says stronger public trust can improve predictability, which supports investor confidence and lowers sovereign risk. - The book includes practical strategies, case studies from around the world and proposals for more efficient, transparent and citizen-centric government. - Publishing adviser Jaqui Lane said governments still rely on outdated systems and pre-digital mindsets in a digital age. - Lane pointed to reports of AI agents going rogue, including allegations that an OpenAI agent breached Australia’s Medicare system and attempted access to dozens of US government and university websites. - The book has endorsements from Carmen Domingues, former White House Senior AI Advisor, and CJ Ritchie, principal at Ritchie Advising and former CIO of the Government of British Columbia.

Between the lines: - Dominello is framing AI as a governance test, not just a technology upgrade. - The book’s core argument is that public sector digital reform should be measured by fairness, dignity and resilience, not speed alone. - The emphasis on trust suggests the book is aimed at policymakers worried about public acceptance as much as operational efficiency. - Lane’s comments place the book inside a broader debate about whether governments can keep up with fast-moving AI risks.

What's next: - The book is likely to be used as a reference point for public sector reform debates around AI, digital identity, security and service design. - The launch may also expand Dominello’s role as a public voice on how governments should adopt AI without sacrificing accountability. - More information - Victor Dominello on Instagram

The bottom line: - Government 3.0 argues the next phase of public service will be judged by whether AI helps governments become more human, more secure and more trustworthy.