NSW Public Sphere and engaging MPs online

There are now
53 members with websites. I give particular mention to my colleague the
Hon. Mick Veitch for getting online last week at www.mickveitch.com.au.
There are now 21 members who are using Twitter and 21 members who are
experimenting with Facebook. Websites and social media technologies are
not just fads. Tools such as Twitter enable new channels of
communication between disparate communities, and direct channels of
communication between elected representatives and their constituencies.
They can help us to do our jobs better. The concept of Government 2.0
is about harnessing social, media and interactive technologies to
provide better services and alternative channels of communication to—in
the words of James Dellow from Headshift in the United Kingdom—"get
things done". For those interested in learning about tools like
Twitter, I will be hosting a workshop for members of Parliament using
Twitter with the Tweet MP creators next month—everyone interested is
invited.

Earlier this year I attended an event run by Senator Kate Lundy in
the Australian Capital Territory called Public Sphere, which explored
exactly what Web 2.0 technologies could mean for government, and
particularly for the Federal Government at this time. As a result of
that event I was inspired to host a similar event in New South Wales.
New South Wales Public Sphere Government 2.0 was held on 4 September
here in Parliament House. It was put together with a team of volunteers
I met through Twitter. It brought together public servants, industry
people and engaged citizens to talk about how we can use technology to
engage and deliver better services in New South Wales. Over one hundred
people attended. Throughout the day there were over 1,500 tweets, 135
people either watched or listened to the live stream, and 61 photos
were posted to a live Flickr photo feed of the event.

I place on record my appreciation to the Parliament's information
technology staff who assisted us. We pushed them beyond the limits of
what they had previously considered to be reasonable for an event held
by members of Parliament. It was a truly interactive event. We heard
from 21 speakers who covered everything from better engagement with the
community, access to public data and how the Internet is empowering
citizens and our democracy. We looked at the innovation happening right
now in New South Wales: police using Twitter, social media in the
Murray Darling, and what our public library system is doing to bring
the Internet to everyone in our community. As a result of this event
there will soon be a discussion paper produced via a wiki, which means
that anyone who is interested can contribute to the recommendations
that we will be putting forward to the Premier as to how we can
progress Government 2.0 throughout New South Wales. I also thank the
Premier for attending the event. He outlined what Government 2.0 can
mean for this State. He said that he is "determined to do even more to
improve public access to public data and encourage the community to
develop creative new ways to use Government information".

For example, he soon will launch the apps4nsw public competition,
with $100,000 in prizes, which will encourage individuals and groups to
create ideas and software that use government information that can be
shared widely. We also are opening up the New South Wales data
catalogue and a new information website that will help make public data
usable by third parties. The Premier's leadership on this issue sends
an important message not only to the Government but to our citizens
that he believes Gov 2.0 innovations can improve democracy and
representation in this State. As the Premier said when he spoke at the
New South Wales Public Sphere: