eDemocracy – a Queensland perspective

Kerrie Oakes, Principal Policy Officer, eDemocracy Policy

Department of Communities

July 2005

eDemocracy – what is it?

• The use of information and communication technology, such as the internet, mobile and digital technologies, to increase public participation in government decision-making

Queensland context

• 3.7 million people over 1.7 million sq km• 73% of Queensland households have a computer at home• Of those, 82% have access to the internet or email• Increasing number of people considering using the internet to contact

government • People aged 18 – 34 are most likely to say they would prefer to use the

internet to contact government

Background

• Election commitment (2001) • Whole-of-government project led by eDemocracy Unit in Department of the Premier

and Cabinet (2001) • CBRC funding of $3.25M over three years (2001) • eDemocracy Policy Framework (2001)• Four initiatives:

- ePetitions (August 2002) – www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Petitions- internet broadcast of Parliament (April 2003) - www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Broadcast- online consultation – ConsultQld (May 2003) - www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/consultqld

- community engagement website – www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au(December 2003)• Shift to Strategic Policy Directorate in new Department of Communities (2004) • Revised eDemocracy Policy Framework (October 2004)

Benefits of online policy consultation

Benefits to communities • Increased access • Safe, secure and simple• Have a say in government decision-making• Central list of consultations

Benefits to agencies • Additional tool to support offline community engagement processes• Tap into new and diverse audiences• Increases transparency• Cost effective • All submissions are easily accessible in a database

Challenges of online policy consultation

Challenges • Not always a suitable mechanism • Diverse and public discussion• Requires dedicated resources to develop, monitor and moderate• Needs to be well planned, structured, timed and promoted• Agencies need to provide timely feedback to people who have participated

ConsultQld – results to date

• Operating for over 2 years • Online consultations on 16 policy issues to date• 2,000 participants, ranging from 3 to 805 responses• 49% of participants are women • 71% of users from Brisbane region• 72% of participants asked to have their views posted to the website for

others to read• 1/3 of users had never contacted government about issues important to them

before using ConsultQld

Future eDemocracy directions in Queensland

• Get involved tools – eNewsletter, online poll, eSurvey and discussion forums • ‘Get involved in your community’• Online Ministerial Regional Community Forums • Capacity building and partnerships • Central Queensland sitting of Parliament

For more information …

Kerrie Oakes

Principal Policy Officer, eDemocracy Policy

Strategic Policy Directorate

Department of Communities

GPO Box 806

Brisbane QLD 4001

Australia

E: kerrie.oakes@communities.qld.gov.au

P: +61 7 322 45601