The federal government has been petitioned by both the public and private sectors to improve access to each other’s data.

Lake Macquarie Council in NSW wants the federal government to “continue and expand resourcing its open data initiatives.”

“Local government would benefit from the release of additional spatial data at lower geographic scales, and non-government generated data,” the council said.

“For example, we are aware telco providers are offering highly granular big data services useful for strategy development and operations.

“As these services are currently cost-prohibitive for local government, we would welcome federal procurement and data-sharing initiatives to test the application of such data and integration with local government planning processes.”

Lake Macquarie said local councils had showed their enthusiasm for more open data by releasing sets to data.gov.au and other outlets.

“Local government manages a wealth of data of benefit to state and federal government, industry, academia and the wider community,” the council said.

“[We have] published 47 dynamic and/or static datasets. The initiative is still in the pilot phase and further data will be published.”

Telcos are among the groups with particularly in-demand data, but they say they would like better access to government data too.

“Government data and information is an asset that can contribute significantly to research and be leveraged by the private sector,” Optus said.

“[The government] should consider significant focus on opening up its data where possible in a format that is easy to find and use.

“Government could also sponsor opportunities to gain greater insights from its data in collaboration with large corporates, universities and start-ups alike.”

IAG, one of Australia’s largest insurers, also encourages “the move towards open data” but wants any sharing scheme to be operated carefully.

“The fluid nature of data sharing between multiple networks creates the potential for IAG customers and their communities to be vulnerable to adverse effects of using technological ecosystems,” it said.

“Until the implications stemming from the interaction between multiple technologies is known, regulation of data usage should be deferred.”

Suncorp’s insurance arm has backed better data openness and availability as well.

“Greater access to public sector data would enable the private sector to drive innovative product development, more accurately implement risk-based pricing, and help educate customers about risk,” it said.

Reports say new ideas about open data will form part of the federal government’s new digital economy strategy, currently under development.