Customer story highlights

• Improved forecasting, reporting and procurement compliance
• Greater focus on value for money in procurement, freeing resources for investment in reef protection initiatives
• Enabled greater collaboration with other Commonwealth agencies through shared OneGovernment processes

About Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) is the Australian Government agency responsible for protecting the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Headquartered in Townsville, with staff also based in Cairns, Yeppoon, Airlie Beach and Canberra, the Authority employs around 272 people.

Its responsibilities include managing permits for activities within the Marine Park, collecting the Environmental Management Charge (EMC) from marine park users, and overseeing joint field management and compliance programs with the Queensland Government. The Reef Authority also leads initiatives to control crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, delivers reef education programs, and provides science-based advice to government and the community.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

The challenge: balancing regulation, reporting and budget constraints

The Great Barrier Reef is a cultural icon not just of Australia, but of the world. Stretching more than 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast, the Reef is home to thousands of species and holds deep cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Yet the Great Barrier Reef faces mounting pressures from climate change, coral bleaching, cyclones, flood plumes and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. Against this backdrop, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority must balance complex regulatory responsibilities with the urgent need to protect a fragile ecosystem.

As the Commonwealth agency tasked with safeguarding the Reef, the Reef Authority manages permits, oversees compliance with environmental rules, and ensures appropriate revenue investment from the Environmental Management Charge (EMC) into reef protection.

According to Kim Corrie, Director of Finance at the Reef Authority, delivering on these responsibilities requires strong and accurate reporting, and financial discipline is critical.

“We have a finite budget; each year, we're getting efficiency dividends because the economy is so tough. So strategic procurement is extremely important,” Ms Corrie said.

“Ensuring value for money through procurement activities, ensure that our funding can go further in protecting the reef.”

The solution: a purpose-built government ERP solution

To strengthen its financial and regulatory foundations, the Reef Authority transitioned its TechnologyOne OneGovernment solution from Ci to the next-generation platform, CiA. The move was not only about upgrading to CiA, but also about adopting a whole-of-government solution designed to meet the specific needs of Commonwealth agencies.

For the Reef Authority, OneGovernment provided a solution tailored to the reporting requirements and governance obligations of a federal regulator, while also creating opportunities for closer collaboration with other agencies in the environment portfolio.

According to Ms Corrie, the agency’s past experience with TechnologyOne gave her confidence that OneGovernment would provide the right fit for the Reef Authority's reporting and regulatory needs

She also said the solution also eased one of the Reef Authority’s most complex obligations: mandatory monthly reporting to the Department of Finance through the Central Budget Management System (CBMS).

“The solution integrates seamlessly with CBMS. What was once a cumbersome process is now much easier and more efficient, which is a big improvement for our monthly reporting obligations.”

With OneGovernment in place, the agency now has a system that supports accurate reporting, strengthens governance, and enables it to manage taxpayer funds more efficiently — all of which are critical to achieving its long-term mission of safeguarding the Reef.

The results: better reporting, stronger governance

Transitioning to OneGovernment on CiA has given the Reef Authority a contemporary and transparent way of working. The platform has streamlined forecasting, accelerated accounts payable, strengthened compliance, and simplified procurement.

It has also lifted staff confidence, encouraged greater collaboration across agencies, and provided clearer visibility for decision makers.

“Starting fresh with CiA and OneGovernment gave us a much cleaner, easier-to-use platform, and that’s made a huge difference internally,” Kim Corrie said.

“OneGovernment has also opened the door to increased collaboration with other agencies. We’ve been able to share what we’re doing in procurement, and in turn, learn from others about how they’re using modules. That exchange of ideas has been invaluable.”

Executives now base their decisions on more accurate insights, while procurement workflows now embed Commonwealth Procurement Rules directly into the system.

“Decision makers are finding information for themselves, and the reporting is far stronger now they have solid data to make well-informed decisions,” Kim Corrie said

“Moving to the Sourcing Module will streamline procurement approvals, build the Commonwealth Procurement Rules into the process, and take away the need for separate checklists and documents.”

Most importantly, these improvements have delivered measurable benefits in government accountability and environmental stewardship.

“In today’s tight economic environment, being accountable to taxpayers is critical. OneGovernment helps us manage our budget responsibly and ensures we’re making informed decisions about the future,” Corrie said.

“Ultimately, our long-term goal is to have the Reef as resilient and beautiful as possible for as long as possible.”

What’s next for the Reef Authority?

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is now focused on maximising the value of its investment in OneGovernment. The agency is preparing to complete the rollout of the sourcing module and expand its use of Enterprise Asset Management, particularly as part of the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium redevelopment project.

It's also exploring the potential of new capabilities, including the sustainability module and wider use of BPA forms to digitise approvals.

“We’ve made a big investment, and we owe it to taxpayers to get the best value out of the system,” Ms Corrie said.

“That means making sure we’re using every part of it to its full potential.”

Their advice for government departments?

For government departments looking to undertake a digital transformation, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s story provides some key learnings to take on board.

Ms Corrie believes the key to success with OneGovernment is resisting the temptation to customise, and instead embrace the system as designed.

“My advice is to take the system out of the box and make your processes fit it. OneGovernment is designed for all agencies, so don’t try to customise it unnecessarily.”

She also emphasised the importance of collaboration and adoption.

“Learn from others who are already using it, and don’t repeat their mistakes. Above all, use the system to its full potential — that’s how you get real value for money, not by only using half of what it can do.”