The AGIMO Government 2.0 Primer

Primer blog post >> Introduction

Note: the latest version of this document is available on the Web Guide.

Introduction

This document is a primer for Australian Government agencies about scenarios and tools which apply to agency Government 2.0 activities, including engaging with the public and releasing government data online. It has been written based on experience gained and research commissioned by the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), a business group within the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance), in the course of its Government 2.0 work.

This document is not intended as a comprehensive guide to all of these scenarios and tools. Please direct any feedback or additional questions to gov2@finance.gov.au. AGIMO policy and guidance staff are also available for consultations, workshops and presentations to help agencies implement Government 2.0 initiatives and strategies.

What is Government 2.0?

Although there is no universally accepted definition, Government 2.0 is essentially about using technology to realise a more open, transparent and consultative form of government. The term derives from Web 2.0, which refers to technologies that encourage online discussion, sharing and collaboration.

From an operational point of view, Government 2.0 involves:

  • Consulting and engaging with stakeholders online.
  • Releasing data online under licences and in formats which enable reuse, subject to privacy, security and other relevant considerations.

For a more detailed discussion of Government 2.0 and Web 2.0 in an Australian Government context, refer to Engage: Getting on with Government 2.0, the report of the Government 2.0 Taskforce (the Taskforce).

The Government’s response to the Taskforce’s recommendations and its Declaration of Open Government also contains important information about future government plans in this area. The Government has also accepted the recommendation in Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for Reform of Australian Government Administration for an open government reform which is similar, in many respects, to the Taskforce’s recommendations.

What work is Finance doing in this area?

In 2009, Finance provided the secretariat of the Taskforce, gaining experience in managing social media tools and an understanding of the drivers and issues involved in implementing Government 2.0 across the Australian Public Service (APS). In May 2010, the Government response to the Taskforce gave Finance responsibility for leading the Government 2.0 work program. Following that response, Finance established a Government 2.0 Strategy and Services team within AGIMO to carry this work program forward, including tasks such as:

  • Developing Government 2.0 guidance for Australian Government agencies about engaging online.
  • Establishing a Government 2.0 Steering Group composed of senior public servants from a range of Australian Government agencies to inform the Government 2.0 work plan and provide leadership in this area.
  • Developing the data.gov.au website from the current beta version to serve as a repository and searching tool for government data.
  • Providing the govspace service, a WordPress-based blogging platform which allows agencies from any level of government to establish a blog without having to invest in software and infrastructure.
  • Operating the AGIMO Blog as a way to engage with stakeholders and share information about AGIMO’s work, particularly in the area of Government 2.0.
  • Launching a Government 2.0 online community (via Finance’s govdex service) for public servants from all levels of government to discuss Government 2.0 issues and initiatives and become used to engaging online. Requests for membership can be sent to gov2@finance.gov.au.
  • Working with several other Government agencies to create policy in areas such as Web 2.0 record-keeping and security, and data publication best practices.

Table of Contents

Creative Commons

With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted, this document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence.

The document should be attributed as The  AGIMO Government 2.0 Primer by the Department of Finance and Deregulation.

Next: Government 2.0 Planning and Governance

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