Breaking News: eBay, Trading Post help catch tax cheats

ZDNet / Government / Story

CeBIT: Nairn talks up govt blogs

By Steven Deare, ZDNet Australia on May 2nd, 2007

Topics

blogs, e-government, government, nairn, online

Top related stories

Funnelback holds fast to australia.gov.au

Aussie ICT apprentices start work

School leavers to stop skills shortage

Blogs could be the next frontier for governments to discuss plans and policies with citizens, according to special minister of state Gary Nairn.

Nairn told the CeBIT conference in Sydney this morning that blogs could represent a "new era" in community interaction as the government develops more online services.

"Blogs could split up consultation and enable government and others to analyse and debate issues in reasonable detail," he said.

"This could then lead to more informed policy and program development."

This could not just be the government talking to its citizens, but also citizens talking amongst themselves about policy issues, according to Nairn.

"Blogging could lead to a new era of community interaction.

"For example, Australians in the city might learn more about life in the bush from people that live there."

Localised blogs and other online technologies could help bridge the rural-city communication divide in Australia, according to Nairn.

Nairn discussed the blogs in a roundup of the "significant progress" of the e-government strategy, which he launched at the same event 12 months ago.

"More and more people are accessing [government] information and services exclusively online," he said.

"We now have one in five people only dealing with government online. That's increased quite a bit in the last 12 months or so. We think it'll go to one in three probably within a couple of years."

The government has designated the australia.gov.au portal as the main entry point to online services.

The site currently attracted about 500,000 hits per month, said Nairn.

Key to the success of this site was the search capability developed by CSIRO spin-off Funnelback, he said. The improved search has helped citizens locate government services more easily. The search tool has been adopted by the Web sites of 20 other government agencies.

CeBIT Australia 2007

Nairn also reiterated the government's plans to introduce user accounts to access online government services.

"Through australia.gov.au we want to eventually provide citizens with individual user accounts and simple access to government services available online through a single sign-on process," he said.

"We also want to allow for the pre-population of forms so users don't have to re-enter the same information. We want to cut out more red tape to let people comply with government requirements more easily."

Related stories

Funnelback holds fast to australia.gov.au

Aussie ICT apprentices start work

School leavers to stop skills shortage

Half of Australians use e-government services

Government ID framework released

Talkback

Rip Van Nairn has just opened his eyes and discovered 'com-pu-ters'.

Get with the times Gary, and by the times, I mean the 60's. It was a magical new-era when computers presented screens that could collect information and have some of it already filled in... *gasp* the future is here!

I agree with Gary that computers will surely also cut red tape. Just like how they eliminated paper in the office, eliminated crime from the streets and simplified the legislation that basically, IS the red tape.

Ah the struggle for relevancy. He love blogs but I'm sure he's never heard of newsgroups, BBS'. Recently discovering computers, and telling us to 'use them', doesn't equate to policy or vision. Try to keep up Gazza.

NateNate May 2nd, 2007
Report offensive content Reply (0) (0)

Good to see the Government looking at blogs

Having just spent the past couple of hours searching for any trace of other national governments indicating any interest in blogs as a means of more effective communication with citizens, I reckon Gary is in fact ahead of the bunch. Happy to be proved wrong, but Google doesn't indicate otherwise.

Des WalshDes Walsh May 13th, 2007
Report offensive content Reply (0) (0)
Add your opinion

In order to post a comment, you need to be registered. (Sign In or register below)

Post your comment

Power Centre Useful content from our premier sponsors

Resource Centre Useful content from our premier sponsors

ZDNet Australia Live

A user from Melbourne measured 7853kbps @ Broadband Speedtest.

5 minutes ago, Click here to find out how fast your internet speed is.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-we-are-focusing-on-eight-core-businesses/6937 focusing on eight anything doesn't sound right

RT @superglaze: A photo-gallery report of #ORGCon, featuring @doctorow @newsbrooke @thepublicdomain and more! http://bit.ly/dbkP7n #acta #deact

Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit http://bit.ly/bZUp31

Apple unveils Safari Extensions Gallery for extensions, updates for security http://zd.net/aSFW2b (via @ZDNet)

http://bit.ly/dnVmvs Aurora opens Small Business Server to the cloud | Servers | ZDNet UK

Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit | ZDNet http://shrten.com/4klr

RT @HeathClancy: EPA: Yup, greenhouse gases still unhealthy http://bit.ly/aZkizM #greentech #green

http://bit.ly/9SnE7Q Database Toolbar Icons - Free Software Downloads - ZDNet Asia

ZDNET: Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit http://bit.ly/9yAlXu

RT: @ZDNet: HP announces a containerized datacenter sale http://zd.net/d47SR2

RT: @ZDNet: Steve Ballmer: Microsoft has been focusing on cloud for 15 years http://zd.net/9cv0US

RT @johandenhaan: Nice example of difficulties of release management: Oracle rebrands Java, breaks Eclipse http://bit.ly/aN1jaI #yam #fun

RT: @ZDNet: DOJ sues Oracle over GSA contract http://zd.net/boqEb5

[ZDNet Japan] AD: まさかの価格破壊！:   35歳(男性)月額970円の死亡保険の真相。nextialife.co.jp

Ads by MicroAd http://bit.ly/cL8g8X

Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit http://zd.net/dyhmnc

Another "No steeeking Win-DOHS!" RT @ZDNet: Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 marketing pitch: 'I'm a phone too' http://zd.net/bFPibg

Windows Phone 7 devices by end of September?: His current collection includes a Nokia N85, Nokia E71, Nokia 5800, ... http://bit.ly/dlTURg

New post: Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit http://bit.ly/9yAlXu

RT @maryjofoley: Microsoft's Ballmer: Windows 7 slates are 'job number one': http://bit.ly/bYcmwA

There are a couple of points in the story where David's digs at Telstra are offmark: firstly, an inference that the current broadband...

20 minutes ago by gromit on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?

Microsoft's Ballmer: Windows 7 slates are 'job number one' http://bit.ly/bBG7ve

Win-DOHS, we don't need no steeeenking Win-DOHS!! RT @ZDNet: Microsoft's Ballmer: Windows 7 slates are 'job number one' http://zd.net/atdhxQ

RT @HeathClancy: EPA: Yup, greenhouse gases still unhealthy http://bit.ly/aZkizM #greentech #green

Between the Lines Court rejects class action status for Intel antitrust suit: Intel today won a key ruling in an a... http://bit.ly/bAcNFO

Between the Lines Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 marketing pitch: 'I'm a phone too': Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave... http://bit.ly/c2x1K9

Between the Lines Real cuts losses amid restructuring, still misses analyst estimates: Real Networks’ second-quart... http://bit.ly/ccO6ZX

David, you've completely missed the point. This has nothing to do with consumer value. You mentioned that "Telstra is supposed...

36 minutes ago by M.N.M on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?

Yup! They're pretty and look real nice but, as one who qualified in 1963 - on a Diesel Boat - and retired in 1982 - after 6 more die...

39 minutes ago by willyjon on Get wet with submarine tech photos

MasterChefs launch iPhone 4 in Sydney - http://dld.bz/prSR I really want 1, would you get 1? http://dld.bz/prSS

"Not greatly dissimilar to the public jubilation felt at the end of the second World War, Sydney-siders ..." http://bit.ly/cTvyuB #reallysad

Hilarious coverage of the iPhone 4 launch from the CNET guys. http://bit.ly/cTvyuB

What a sad way to live if the only joy in your life is to queue for a piece of defective technology sold by a vendor who accused his loya...

2 hours ago by fred9999 on iPhone 4 Australian launch: pictures

@Jetttje: outlook-alternatieven: http://www.zdnet.com.au/top-alternatives-to-microsoft-outlook-339295046.htm

RT @NASAWatch: NASA photos mooned in abandoned Maccas (LOIRP) http://bit.ly/arFI4Y

http://bit.ly/9y8rsU Multimedia Toolbar Icons - Free Software Downloads - ZDNet Australia

I am happy to know I was right about predicting Symantec's stock price and the furture trend. As I have pointed out a few times, I th...

7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across Australia

Just weirdly found out Michael Yell - Country and Regional Director for OEM, XSP and Services Business at Symantec Asia Pacific and Japan...

7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across Australia

As I have reported to Symantec Ethics about David Freer’s (VP, Symantec – Norton, APJ) misconducts (fraud, having dissented sex with ...

7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across Australia

David Freer (VP, Symantec Consumer Business Units - Norton, APJ) is a BIG LIAR! He lied to me for more than two and half years for my tru...

7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across Australia

My speed is 33 807 I'm with bigpond cable

9 hours ago by francoo on Broadband Speedtest

That is a beautiful boat,but, I'd still rather go to sea on a first flight 688 boat.Preferably the 689 if Clinton hadn't decommis...

10 hours ago by rogue689 on Get wet with submarine tech photos

For many other reasons, than just the net filter, the current has to go. Still, I wouldn't trust Abbot either. There are however chec...

11 hours ago by ian_from_oz on Conroy's filter masterstroke

RT: @zdnetaustralia: http://bit.ly/cJU6Mf We've added Virgin to our iPhone 4 pricing table comparison.. See which telco has the best deal.

The pick: five business iPad apps http://fb.me/DOid8NXt

Apple to look at iPhone 3G iOS 4 problems - Software - News http://bit.ly/cmaTAJ _ that's nice of them

Stop trying to dodge the filter issue, Conboy; it'll bite you in the **** whether you like it or not.

14 hours ago by Hyperion on Conroy pledges NBN map, same policies

@merejames http://bit.ly/9YJ6e7

Facebook va lansa un serviciu de răspunsuri la întrebările utilizatorilor http://bit.ly/aS4kLC

Survey proves #AUS e-health demand http://j.mp/ah9Iwf /via @ZDNetAustralia

A "profound cultural change" is required for a truly open government http://bit.ly/bTht86 /via @zdnetaustralia #gov2au

As one who has been as critical as any of the Sol era Telstra...as long as Telstra are leaving feasible room for profit margins for their...

15 hours ago by RS on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?

David, while the popular opinion, at least in the eyes of Telstra opponents, is to use every devious argument to stifle the operations of...

15 hours ago by sydneyla on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?

Question two: What is stopping.... "AUSTRALIANS could save up to $1.9 billion a year in travel costs, petrol and time if they spent h...

15 hours ago by Vasso Massonic on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?

Survey proves e-health demand: NEHTA http://itrau.com/bt9f8w via @ZDNetAustralia

RT @zdnetaustralia: Survey by NEHTA proves there is a demand for e-health http://bit.ly/bXuT1K

RT @zdnetaustralia: Telstra cops $18.55 million fine for exchange capping http://bit.ly/9cL91V

RT @zdnetaustralia: Survey by NEHTA proves there is a demand for e-health http://bit.ly/bXuT1K #yam

A good read..RT @zdnetaustralia: Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog? http://bit.ly/cSgC31

RT @zdnetaustralia: eBay and the Trading Post online help the Australian Taxation Office catch tax cheats http://bit.ly/dBDXRz

RT @zdnetaustralia Tesltra tweaks its data plans for all smartphones (not just the iPhone 4) http://bit.ly/bxO0G2

RT @zdnetaustralia: Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog? http://bit.ly/cSgC31

Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog? http://bit.ly/cSgC31

@mibus http://www.zdnet.com.au/commbank-dives-into-580m-banking-it-revamp-339288467.htm

The tech keeping Plastiki afloat: photos: ZDNet Australia brings you the tech below deck on the epic Plastiki voyage. http://bit.ly/aTj1QU

http://bit.ly/cJU6Mf We've added virgin to our iPhone 4 pricing table comparison.. See which telco has the best deal.

This story has been liked 5 times in the last 24 hours!

Keep up with ZDNet Australia

LinkedinLinkedin Join our network

RSS FeedsRSS Feeds Subscribe now

NewslettersNewsletters Subscribe today

TwitterTwitter Follow us

Compare Broadband Plans

Powered by WhistleOut

« 1 of 3»
1) Telstra BigPond37 plans 1%
2) Optus76 plans 2%
3) 39 plans 1%
4) Virgin Mobile7 plans 4%
5) Netspace36 plans 1%
1) Mobile Broadband Plans 8%
2) ADSL2+ Broadband Plans 5%
3) Cable Broadband Plans 4%
4) Naked DSL Broadband Plans 1%
5) ADSL Broadband Plans 6%

Mobile Phones | Broadband

CBS - ZDNET Australia Partner Services

Sponsored resources