An IT industry representative body has applauded the Federal Government’s use of Web 2.0 technologies in canvassing public opinion.
Australian Computer Society president, Kumar Parakala, said Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner’s new joint blog was a welcome move.
“From an ACS point of view we commend this trial and I think it is a good move in Australia to boost the so-called digital economy strategy going forward,” he said. “We very strongly believe it is symbolic in so far as younger generations are concerned.”
Parakala claimed blogging is an appropriate avenue for the public to voice its concerns and added he would personally post comments on the ministers’ joint blog.
The blog is open to public comment for two weeks and is one of the first trials to be conducted by the Federal Government. It will be monitord by the Australian Government Information Management Office.
“We look forward to such forums of social networking being increasingly used by other parts of the Government as well,” he said.
While monitors of the new blog should delete abusive or obscene comments, there should be no limitations on discussion threads, Parakala said.
“The government should ensure there is no filtering of the blog to ensure there is open and honest discussion,” he added.
“This is a very direct way of connecting with people at grassroots and it could be quite effective going forward. There is a paradigm shift in the way people are communication so I would expect blogging and other forms of social networking to replace the traditional base of communication in the next 12-24 months, and the Australian Government is embracing it, which could send good messages to citizens across the country.”