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The info commissioner's fight: Govt 2.0

Australia's new information commissioner, Professor John McMillan, faces a massive challenge: persuading traditionally secretive government departments that the new age of Government 2.0 means openness and citizen engagement. How will he go about it?
Written by Stilgherrian , Contributor

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Australia's new information commissioner, Professor John McMillan, faces a massive challenge: persuading traditionally secretive government departments that the new age of Government 2.0 means openness and citizen engagement. How will he go about it?

Setting up the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) was one of the recommendations from the Government 2.0 Taskforce at the end of 2009. So was the Declaration of Open Government, which took place just before this year's Federal Election. Now McMillan has to make it happen.

On Patch Monday this week, McMillan explains where the OAIC fits in, how he'll work with government agencies to change the way they do business, and what we can expect over the next six months. Already 70 per cent of our transactions with government are done online, for example. The target is 90 per cent.

The OAIC has published an issues paper, Towards an Australian Government Information Policy (PDF), that proposes 10 draft principles on open public sector information. Comments close 1 March 2011.

Stilgherrian also takes his usual random look at the week's IT news.

To leave an audio comment for Patch Monday, Skype to stilgherrian, or phone Sydney 02 8011 3733.

Running time: 26 minutes, 02 seconds

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