Dave Bath reports that the government has an official blog on their digital economy plans. This has been in the works for some time; a government Lindsay Tanner’s welcome post (which is worth reading in its entirety) explains the idea:
As some of you may be aware, I’ve been talking about our plans to trial consultation blogs for some time now. This is the first of what will be several consultations taking place over the next six months, supplementing existing policy development processes.
While the primary aim of this blog is to get your feedback on aspects of the digital economy, we also want to use this opportunity to explore the mechanics of government blogging and hear your thoughts on how we should interact with you online.
I’m not entirely convinced this is going to work. Governments around Australia have become increasingly paranoid about being “on message” – not without justification, since Oppositions and media outlets pounce on the slightest deviations from uniformity as the indication of a government in disarray. Such a climate makes it very difficult to hold a substantive two-way conversation about policy.
Furthermore, it’s hard to reconcile such an open process with the traditional way lobby groups get to influence policy – off-the-record conversations with ministerial staff.
But credit to the government for giving this a try.
I think another problem with the government-blogs concept is that “hot button” issues will swamp any dialogue possible in other areas. As I said to Mark, after the first post about the “digital economy” by Tanner and Conroy:
Link isn’t working.
Fixed – dk.au
try here – http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/industry_development/digital_economy/future_directions_blog
and here – http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/industry_development/digital_economy/future_directions_blog/topics/digital_economy_benefit
To actually ‘ be-the-change-you-wish-to-see ‘ a conversation board needs an open-source moderation policy and practice that is self-managed in a completely transparent manner and always includes suspension and expulsion policies that have well established natural-justice built-in. The right of presumed innocence, representation, trial by peers, appeal rights and so-on. You know – like absolutely no website I’ve seen yet!
Of course if no such site is forthcoming then neither is more direct and accountable democracy. Not from below anyway. Maybe some very powerful anarchist aliens are reading this and thinking about a humanitarian intervention.
Thanks, Tyro, but I think Polyquats is referring to the link at the top of the page. The corrected link can be found here.
As for Minsiter’s Tanner’s welcome – 358 posts and counting, and mostly unrelated to the opening statement. High signal to noise, as can be expected.
Apparently many of the comments refer to the proposed internet filter.
I shocked, shocked I tell you that the discussion had already gone off topic. Never happens on real blogs.
I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned by anyone on here but Foxtel are bringing in an Australian version of C-SPAN (called A-SPAN) next month for all the political junkies (that have Foxtel of course).
Well, the SMH doesn’t like it.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/home/technology/bloggers-pan-governments-edemocracy-bid/2008/12/11/1228585002401.html
But the comments from the Microsoft guy at the end are particularly precious, seeing as the whole world of blogging (and related) escaped Microsoft’s attention for many years. And one of the other guys, Darren Rowse, never heard of him before.
I’m sure one of the so called prominent bloggers mentioned simply runs websites that aggregate content from other blogs.
Hi Robert
Having remmbered this blog yopu wrote about the digital economy blog I wanted to contact you to let you know about the third installment in the AGIMO eGovernment consultation trial whcih has just launched with much less publicity. It’s an online discussion forum for the National Human Rights Consultation Committee. This time the department involved is the Federal Attorney General’s Department and they have chosen to outsource the hosting to Open Forum, you can take a look at http://www.openforum.com.au/NHROC All comments are published in real time without being filtered through the public service so it’s more of “real” forum. Point is not so much 2 way dialogue but to make it easier for more Australians to participate in this government consultation on human rights legislation than would through traditional channels. I’d be happy to discuss. Looking for publicity to spread the word. Best, Sally Rose srose@openforum.com.au