After the Engagement: The Future of Gov 2.0 presentation
Slide 1: Title Slide
Image: Coat of Arms, Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation
After the Engagement: The Future of Gov 2.0
Slide 2: We declare...
Declaration of Open Government
The Australian Government now declares that, in order to promote greater participation in
Australia’s democracy, it is committed to open government based on a culture of engagement, built
on better access to and use of government held information, and sustained by the innovative use of
technology.
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Collaboration with citizens is to be enabled and encouraged.
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Reduce barriers to online engagement.
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Undertake social networking, crowd sourcing and online collaboration projects.
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Support online engagement by employees, in accordance with the Australian Public Service
Commission Guidelines.
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Develop policies that support employee-initiated, innovative Government 2.0-based
proposals.
Slide 3: The State of Open Government
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Informing
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Engaging
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OAIC, FOI, Information Policy
Government, Citizens & Social media
Participating
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Public servants in the wild
Slide 4: Informing
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Open PSI Principles
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Open access to information – default
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Engaging the Community
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Effective Information Governance
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Robust Information Asset Management
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Discoverable and useful Information
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Clear reuse rights
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Appropriate charging for access
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Transparent enquiry & complaints process
Image: Coat of Arms, Australian Government Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Speaker’s Notes:
Principle 1: Open access to information - a default position
Information held by Australian Government agencies is a valuable national resource. If there is no
legal need to protect the information it should be open to public access. Information publication
enhances public access. Agencies should use information technology to disseminate public sector
information, applying a presumption of openness and adopting a proactive publication stance.
Principle 2: Engaging the community
Australian Government policy requires agencies to engage the community online in policy design
and service delivery. This should apply to agency information publication practices. Agencies should:
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consult the community in deciding what information to publish and about agency
publication practices
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welcome community feedback about the quality, completeness, usefulness and accuracy of
published information
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respond promptly to comments received from the community and to requests for
information
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employ Web 2.0 tools to support community consultation.
Principle 3: Effective information governance
Australian Government agencies should manage information as a core strategic asset. A senior
executive ‘information champion' or knowledge officer in the agency should be responsible for
information management and governance, including:
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providing leadership on agency compliance with the Information Publication Scheme and
Disclosure Log
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ensuring agency compliance with legislative and policy requirements on information
management and publication
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managing agency information to ensure its integrity, security and accessibility
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instigating strategic planning on information resource management
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ensuring community consultation on agency information policy and publication practices.
The senior officer should be supported by an information governance body that may include people
from outside the agency.
Principle 4: Robust information asset management
Effective information management requires agencies to:
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maintain an asset inventory or register of the agency's information
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identify the custodian of each information holding and the responsibilities of that officer
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train staff in information management
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establish clear procedures and lines of authority for decisions on information publication
and release
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decide if information should be prepared for publication at the time it is created and the
form of publication
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document known limitations on data quality
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identify data that must be managed in accordance with legislative and legal requirements,
including requirements relating to data security and protection of personal information,
intellectual property, business confidentiality and legal professional privilege
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protect information against inappropriate or unauthorised use, access or disclosure
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preserve information for an appropriate period of time based on sound archival practices.
Principle 5: Discoverable and useable information
The economic and social value of public sector information can be enhanced by publication and
information sharing. This requires that information can easily be discovered and used by the
community and other stakeholders. To support this objective agencies should:
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publish an up to date information asset register
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ensure that information published online is in an open and standards-based format and is
machine-readable
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attach high quality metadata to information so that it can be easily located and linked to
similar information using standard web search applications
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publish information in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2
(WCAG 2.0) endorsed by the Australian Government in November 2009.
Principle 6: Clear reuse rights
The economic and social value of public sector information is enhanced when it is made available for
reuse on open licensing terms. The Guidelines on Licensing Public Sector Information for Australian
Government Agencies require agencies to decide licensing conditions when publishing information
online. The default condition should be the Creative Commons BY standard, as recommended in the
Intellectual Property Principles for Australian Government Agencies, that apply to agencies subject to
the Financial and Management Accountability Act 1997. Additional guidance on selecting an
appropriate licence is given in the Australian Government Open Access and Licensing Framework
(AUSGOAL).
Principle 7: Appropriate charging for access
The FOI Act requires agencies to facilitate public access to information at the lowest reasonable cost.
This principle applies when information is provided upon request or is published by an agency. Other
Acts also authorise charges for specific documents or information access.
Agencies can reduce the cost of public access by publishing information online, especially
information that is routinely sought by the public. Charges that may be imposed by an agency for
providing access should be clearly explained in an agency policy that is published and regularly
reviewed.
Principle 8: Transparent enquiry and complaints processes
Agency decision making about information publication should be transparent. This can be
supported, within the agency's information governance framework, by an enquiry and complaints
procedure for the public to raise issues about agency publication and access decisions. The
procedure should be published, explain how enquiries and complaints will be handled, set
timeframes for responding, identify possible remedies and complaint outcomes, and require that
written reasons be provided in complaint resolution.
Slide 5: Finance’s IPS
Image: Department of Finance and Deregulation Information Publication Scheme page screenshot
Slide 6: Informing
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FOI
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Pro-disclosure culture
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OAIC
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Reforms to FOI access requests
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Access as comprehensive as possible
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Restricted only if in stronger public interest
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Simplify and narrow range of exemptions
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Improve process for requesting documents
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New review of decisions by OAIC
Image: Coat of Arms, Australian Government Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Speaker’s Notes:
The OAIC’s role in FOI
Freedom of information (FOI) is one of the three broad functions of the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (OAIC). The main source of this function is the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act).
The Information Commissioner, supported by the Freedom of Information Commissioner, works to
promote awareness and understanding of the FOI Act among both agencies and the public, promote
a pro-disclosure culture across government and provide external merits review of FOI decisions
made by agencies and ministers.
Education and training on the 2010 freedom of information reforms are a key focus of the Office.
Guidelines and other resources developed by the OAIC are available in the Publications and
resources section of this site.
What's Changed in FOI?
Reforms to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) introduced fundamental changes to
the way information held by government is managed and accessed by members of the public. Some
of the major changes are outlined below.
Pro-disclosure culture
The objects of the FOI Act are a clear statement of the intention to promote disclosure of
information held by government. The objects include to:
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give the Australian community access to information by requiring agencies to publish the
information, and provide a right of access
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contribute to increased participation in government processes and increased scrutiny,
discussion and review of government activities
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increase recognition that information held by government is a national resource
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promote public access to information, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost.
The FOI Act sets out a process for ensuring the public's right to access documents held by
government, but it does not prevent agencies from disclosing information outside that process.
Establishment of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The new Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), established under the Australian
Information Commissioner Act 2010, includes two new statutory officers, the Australian Information
Commissioner and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioner.
The Information Commissioner, supported by the FOI Commissioner, acts as an independent
monitor of FOI matters and reviews FOI access decisions made by agencies and ministers.
The Information Commissioner has also taken over most of the Commonwealth Ombudsman's
functions in investigating complaints about handling of FOI requests. The Ombudsman can still
investigate complaints relating to FOI where that would be more appropriate or effective.
Reforms to FOI access requests
Changes have been made to the FOI access request process, which:
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are directed at ensuring that the public's right of access to documents is as comprehensive
as possible, and is restricted only where there is a stronger public interest in withholding
access
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simplify and narrow the range of exemptions from access
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improve the process for requesting documents
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provide a new means of review of access decisions through the OAIC.
Public interest test
A new single public interest test weighted towards disclosure now applies to a greater range of
exemption categories. The FOI Act lists certain factors favouring access in the public interest. Factors
favouring disclosure include:
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promotion of the objects of the FOI Act
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informing debate on matters of public importance.
Factors which are not conducive to open and accountable government, including potential loss of
confidence in or embarrassment to the government, may no longer be used to support nondisclosure.
Decision makers are now required to address the public interest factors taken into account when
they give reasons for their decision.
Documents that can be accessed
An FOI access request may extend to documents held by a contracted service provider who is
delivering services to the public on behalf of an agency. The agency must take contractual measures
to ensure that if an FOI request is made, the agency receives documents that relate to the
performance of the contract. A model clause has been drafted to assist agencies to meet that
obligation for contracts entered into after 1 November 2010.
Exemption categories for Executive Council documents and documents relating to an agency's
conduct of industrial relations have been repealed. There are limited exclusions of certain
intelligence-related information, since the functions of intelligence agencies and other strategic
defence programs would be compromised if the general standards of openness and transparency
applied to them.
Access to archival records
The period during which the FOI access regime applies to government information has been
reduced. Open access under the Archives Act 1983 has been brought forward from 30 years to 20
years for all records other than Cabinet notebooks and census information, which have been
reduced from 50 years to 30 years.
Charges
Cost can be a substantial barrier to access to information. All application fees, including fees for
internal review, have been abolished. No costs will apply where a person requests access to their
personal information. All charges will be waived if a statutory timeframe is not met.
Information Commissioner review process
Applicants who wish to have an FOI access decision reviewed can seek internal review by the agency
or go directly to the Information Commissioner. This provides a further incentive for agencies to
ensure the best possible access decision is made at first instance.
Information Commissioner reviews (IC reviews) provide a simple, practical and cost-efficient system
for external merits review. Most matters are reviewed on the basis of the submissions and papers
provided by the parties, rather than through formal hearings. Agencies and ministers must use their
best endeavours to assist the Information Commissioner to make the correct decision.
Review officers will be helped in their early evaluation of the merits of the decision under review by
considering the primary material and making preliminary inquiries of the agency or minister. An
application may be resolved by agreement between the parties, but in other cases the Information
Commissioner may issue a written determination affirming, varying or setting aside and substituting
the access decision. Applicants who disagree with the Information Commissioner's decision can
apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for review.
An FOI applicant does not bear an onus of proof in either IC review or AAT review. In an IC review,
the agency or minister must establish that their decision is justified. In AAT proceedings, the agency
or minister must establish that a decision adverse to the FOI applicant should be given.
To manage access requests that are clearly unreasonable, the Information Commissioner can restrict
an applicant's access rights by declaring the person to be a vexatious applicant.
Complaints
The Information Commissioner can also investigate complaints about the actions of agencies under
the FOI Act. The Commonwealth Ombudsman may still investigate complaints relating to FOI where
that would be more appropriate or effective (for example, where the FOI complaint is only one part
of a wider grievance about an agency's actions). In such cases the Information Commissioner and the
Commonwealth Ombudsman will consult.
New FOI Guidelines
The OAIC has issued Guidelines and other material to assist agencies understand what the main
changes to the FOI Act are, and how they affect agencies' activities.
Slide 7: data.gov.au
Image: data.gov.au screenshot.
Slide 8: Engaging
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53 blogs
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52 Facebook accounts
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102 Twitter accounts
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369 RSS Feeds
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140 posts on AGIMO’s blog
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1319 comments
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10897+1467 spam
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15,149 tweets on #gov2au
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150 videos on ImmiTV
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500k views
Image: Facebook logo
Image: Twitter logo
Image: RSS logo
Image: Department of Immigration and Citizenship ImmiTV YouTube channel screenshot
Slide 9: Participating
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@SandiHLogan
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@HankJongen
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@xxxxxxxxxx You need to report this to Policelink on 131 444 - this service isn't for
reporting issues like that. Cheers :)
@2011Census
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eGovAU: Social media is now normal - so why do government agencies persist in
treating it as an edge case? bit.ly/nkwj36 #gov2au
@QPSMedia
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Hitting the airwaves with John Mackenzie from 10am tomorrow on 4CA Cairns
Mornings!
@CraigThomler
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To those still asking why we must protect client privacy & why legal deeds of
agreement w media are essential, watch bit.ly/p8c4cb.
The owner of a white Corolla, your lights are still on. Australia has 14+ million
licensed drivers, but only 3,421 driving instructors.
@cyberwhitepaper
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Should critical infrastructure have its own internet? bit.ly/vTAwDT
Slide 10: What have we learnt on the Honeymoon?
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Go where they are
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Open data isn’t information,
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information isn’t knowledge,
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knowledge isn’t wisdom,
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(wisdom isn’t always popular)
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Start small, fail early, try again
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Broadcasting isn’t social
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& it’s easy to turn off
#socmed expertise is like air guitar playing:
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it’s easy to look good when you aren’t plugged in
Image: Air guitar, URL:
http://www.gilimag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=187:airguitar&catid=34:
fun&Itemid=53
Slide 11: Risks & What to do about them
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Snarkiness & Trolls
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The Curse of Second Life (MySpace, Google Buzz etc.)
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Technology is moving on
Sometimes when you build it, they don’t come
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Anonymity + Keyboard + Platform brings out the worst in some people
Unplanned developments can fail
Crowdsourcing is more about trees than forests
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They’re not called mobs for nothing
Slide 12: Living Together: The future of Gov 2.0
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Understand that there are limitations
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Not all problems need a Gov 2 answer
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Try it out first
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It’s not (just) about technology
Manage expectations
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Likes on Facebook ≠ commitment
Three trends:
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Mobile devices,
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applications,
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personalisation
Image: I heart iPhone, URL: http://thequickanddirtydirty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lovemy-iphone.jpg
Slide 13: What is the future?
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iGov2s
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Location aware
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Mobile
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Application driven
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But will it talk back?
Slide 14: The Future of Gov 2.0
Questions?