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InSight Edition | Upgrading Democracy

Cover image by Thomas Hawk

Cover image by Thomas Hawk 

As the internet continues to make transparency and collaboration cheaper and easier, governments around the world face increasing pressure to become more open and more participatory. This edition of InSight looks at the idea of Upgrading Democracy: combining open access to government information with collaborative policy development to increase citizens' influence over the decisions that affect their lives. The 'Government 2.0 Taskforce' is currently putting together its advice on how to open up access to public sector information and use online tools to improve the conversation between government and citizens. This InSight, which has also doubled as a submission to the Taskforce, unpacks the 'Government 2.0' concept for the non-geeks out there, as well as featuring some hot new ideas for those who are already in the thick of it.

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Foreword - Lindsay Tanner

Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner outlines his Government 2.0 reform agenda - how to make government smarter, cheaper, and more informed, responsive and engaged.


Introduction - Martin Stewart Weeks

Taking off his many hats - including as a member of the Government 2.0 Taskforce - Martin Stewart-Weeks connects the Government 2.0 concept to the bigger challenge of creating new ways to govern.


Upgrading Democracy: Opening Windows

CPD's Executive Director Miriam Lyons reflects on the difference between stronger Freedom of Information laws and an 'open access' mindset, and argues that it's time to open the windows of government and let some more light into the big house on the hill.


Promise versus Practice: the Dilemma of Open Government

Meet Kevin Page. He is the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and is one of the linchpins of accountability and transparency in Canada. And now the Government that installed him wants to shut him down. In other words, writes Michael Richardson, Kevin Page personifies the dilemma of open government.


Case Study: South Australia's Plan for Open Access Government

In 2004, the South Australian state government introduced a whole-of-state Strategic Plan for South Australia, with data transparency at its heart. Amy King looks at the successes achieved in South Australia as a model that can be followed by the Federal Government and other States and Territories.


Case Study: OpenAustralia on Practical Transparency and Gov2.0

Katherine Szuminska, co-founder of OpenAustralia, looks at what transparency means in a Government 2.0 world, and at how to go about implementing it. She draws on the radically transparent approach of OpenAustralia itself as a demonstration of the benefits transparency can bring to those willing to embrace it.


Upgrading Democracy: Opening Doors

How many Australians hate voting, let alone think of taking a more active role in the development of Government policy? Miriam Lyons argues that the most effective form of democratic renewal is for governments to let more citizens through the door to help make the decisions that affect their lives.


Rebooting Australia?

Lee Bryant and James Dellow, of Europe’s leading social technology consultancy, Headshift, propose the application of some 21st century solutions to Australia's problems: use government spending to seed innovation; harness people power for rapid, iterative improvements to policies and services; and open up access to government data.


Government 2.0: Crossing or Creating Digital Divides?

Dr Peter Chen, of the University of Sydney, asks 'What social contract lies at the heart of Government 2.0?' He argues that the real question for Government 2.0 enthusiasts is how this approach defines the minimum skill set required to be an effective citizen.


Identifying and Managing the Risks of (not) Engaging Online

Matt Crozier and Crispin Butteriss, from Bang the Table, outline key mechanisms for managing the risks of online engagement, but point out that the bigger risk is faced by those who don’t engage.


Culture in the New Order

Stephen Collins identifies key aspects of public sector culture and management that will need to change if Government 2.0 is to have any real success. And he calls for all public servant supporters of openness to take the lead - and the limelight - in bringing this change about.


Case Study: Collaborating with the Crowd for Better Policy Development

Mark Elliot, Darren Sharp and Matt Cooperrider from Collabforge draw on their experience with successful collaborative policy development projects to provide guidelines for effective community engagement in the policy process.


Case Study: Public Sphere as a Gov 2.0 example of Open Government

Senator Lundy and Pia Waugh - founders of the Public Sphere initiative - outline the three pillars of Open Government and how they relate to Gov 2.0. They also present Public Sphere as a Gov 2.0 case study for crowdsourcing policy development.


Web2.0 tools for Gov2.0 beginners: a practical guide

Barry Saunders presents a practical how-to-guide for public servants, politicians or community organisers who want to start using Web2.0 tools.


CPD ideas for the Gov2.0 Taskforce: open sourcing policy development?

The open source software world has a lot to teach us about collaborating to produce 'public goods'. Miriam Lyons explores the parallels and flags some ideas on how we can overcome the obstacles to upgrading democracy.


What is Gov2.0?

What is Gov2.0? It means many things to many people.....how would you define it?



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