Sharing GIS Layers

It would be extremely helpful for our organisation if Government departments could share their Geographical Information System layers such as soil types, topography, NRM Boundaries, local government boundaries, vegetation types, vegetation condition etc. Currently if we wanted this information some of it is available through NatureMaps, however if we wanted to use this information using the ArcMap program we would have to purchase it at a cost which is prohibitive to a not-for-profit organisation. There could be a central Government website where this information is stored and updated whenever new layers or information becomes available. Each not-for-profit could pay an annual membership fee to access this information and download it for storage in their own database, with reminders sent from the Government department in control of the website whenever the information is updated.