Author: craigthomler

eGovAU

Only professional scientists can do science, only professional journalists can do journalism, only professional policy makers can create good policy – not anymore
Bycraigthomler 30 November 2011

I attended the Australian Science Communicator’s new media forum last night, participating on the panel as a Gov 2.0 Advocate, along with a distinguished group of science communicators and academics. One view expressed on the panel was that while scientists should communicate basic science to the public, the uninformed masses should not be involved in…

Read More Only professional scientists can do science, only professional journalists can do journalism, only professional policy makers can create good policy – not anymore
eGovAU

Stop talking about engagement and get on with it
Bycraigthomler 28 November 2011

Guest post by Steve Davies Yesterday I spend a little time getting involved in the ACT Government Twitter Cabinet. The focus was on Canberra beyond 2013. Lots of ideas and views exchanged. Through sheer serendipity one of my views on life struck a note with our Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. So the next Twitter Cabinet…

Read More Stop talking about engagement and get on with it
eGovAU

ACT government Virtual Community Cabinet on again today at 12.30pm – follow the liveblog
Bycraigthomler 28 November 2011

The ACT Government has scheduled its next Virtual Community Cabinet (VCC) meeting for 12.30 today. This is the third VCC held by the ACT government and has the theme “The Canberra you want to live in past 2013”. I’m collecting the public discussion via the liveblog below (and by RSS) – which means you can…

Read More ACT government Virtual Community Cabinet on again today at 12.30pm – follow the liveblog
eGovAU

This week’s social media score – Public: 3 Organisations: 0
Bycraigthomler 24 November 2011

This has been an insightful week for organisations using, or considering using, social media with three successive events demonstrating how far power has shifted to the public and illustrating how Australians companies are struggling to engage effectively online. First up was Qantas with its poorly timed “Qantas luxury” promotion. Qantas launched the Twitter competition by…

Read More This week’s social media score – Public: 3 Organisations: 0
eGovAU

In traditional organisations, innovation often appears to happens at the wrong end of a gun
Bycraigthomler 23 November 2011

When I think back over the most well known innovation successes over the last few years, and I am not specifically referring to the public sector, an aspect that springs out at me is how often these innovations occurred during a major crisis or due to a funding crunch. In other words, these innovations frequently…

Read More In traditional organisations, innovation often appears to happens at the wrong end of a gun
eGovAU

Pfft – who needs to understand social media to be a social media advisor
Bycraigthomler 22 November 2011

Over the last year I’ve observed a couple of good and bad trends in governments around Australia. The first – the good trend – is towards the recognition that social media is a valid and significant channel for government communication and engagement. This has led to the creation of a new type of role, the…

Read More Pfft – who needs to understand social media to be a social media advisor
eGovAU

Don’t forget to register for the Gov 2.0 lunch in Canberra on Friday
Bycraigthomler 22 November 2011

If you’ve not yet registered, there are still a few tickets left for the Gov 2.0 lunch in Canberra on Friday 25 November. The event will feature a presentation from Dominic Campbell, a leading UK digital government specialist and social innovator with a background in government policy, communications and technology-led change. Learn more and register here.

Read More Don’t forget to register for the Gov 2.0 lunch in Canberra on Friday
eGovAU

Should Australia’s political parties have open government and Gov 2.0 policies? (NZ Labour does)
Bycraigthomler 21 November 2011

The New Zealand Labour Party have released an Open Government policy, proudly claiming it as first in New Zealand. The policy focuses on transparency of political offices as the core principle, but also commits the party to producing a comprehensive “Open Government Charter‟, based on a set of principles developed by NZ Labour MPs in consultation with members…

Read More Should Australia’s political parties have open government and Gov 2.0 policies? (NZ Labour does)
eGovAU

Brisbane City Council launches open data datastore
Bycraigthomler 21 November 2011

Brisbane City Council has released an open data public sector information datastore, allowing the community to access and reuse a range of council data under Creative Commons licensing. While not the first council in Australia to do this (with Mosman City Council leading the pack), Brisbane is the first large metropolitan council in Australia to do…

Read More Brisbane City Council launches open data datastore
eGovAU

Cannot defame with a hyperlink – Canadian Supreme Court ruling
Bycraigthomler 23 October 2011

In the spirit of actually being in Canada, I learnt last Thursday that in a groundbreaking case the Canadian Supreme Court has supported two lower courts in ruling unanimously that hyperlinking to defamatory information is not the same as defaming someone, unless the information is replicated in the link or on the hyperlinker’s site or…

Read More Cannot defame with a hyperlink – Canadian Supreme Court ruling