Lundy to help NZ with Govt 2.0

As Australia's political future hangs in the balance over which party will form the next government, Labor Senator and IT advocate Kate Lundy is set to talk on open government at a forum in New Zealand on Saturday.

Lundy will deliver a keynote address via video at New Zealand Labour's OpenLabourNZ event in Wellington, which aims to develop a policy on open and transparent government. Pia Waugh, Lundy's advisor and IT personality, will be attending the event in person.

The public event is a first in New Zealand. In addition to working to deliver open and transparent government, it is also an attempt to use online technology to involve the community in shaping policy for New Zealand's shadow Labour party.

Lundy's participation was announced by NZ shadow Labour Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran on her blog yesterday.

Lundy has been a strong information technology advocate within the Australian government. She has been instrumental in shaping party technology policy and in the development of open government through Government 2.0 during Labor's tenure in power.

"She has participated in every Senate inquiry relating to telecommunications and information technology over the last fourteen years and spearheaded Govt 2.0 initiatives such as her Public Sphere events which facilitate online public collaboration on policy development," Curran said.

Andrew Rasiej, futurist and former advisor on internet issues to Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean and Barack Obama, will also be giving a keynote address at the event.

The event will be streamed live online, with live discussions held on Facebook. Twitter users can follow the event on Saturday using the hashtag #openlabourNZ.