[LINK] Re: SA Ministers / online democracy

[Irene Graham]

On Fri, 9 Nov 2001 18:02:40 +1100 Tony Barry <me@Tony-Barry.emu.id.au>
wrote:

>Forwarded item provided for information.
[...]
>>Ministers in the South Australian government will start facing a new 
>>kind of public accountability. The government has pledged to make 
>>ministers available in regular online discussion groups to answer 
>>questions from the public in real-time.
>>http://it.mycareer.com.au/breaking/2001/11/08/FFXOF4IERTC.html

What, again? One wonders how useful it will be this time, that is, whether
Ministers will actually respond to questions asked.

SA Talking Point has been around for ages:
http://www.talkingpoint.sa.gov.au/index.php

Early this year, concerned SA citizens (and others) trying to find out more
about the SA Internet Censorship Bill tried to use the forum and were
'promised' participation from Ministers and answers. They're still waiting
to see any helpful posts from Ministers, notwithstanding numerous questions
asked.

Extract from SA Talking Point archives:

Topic: Classifications Amendment Bill 2000
Sub Topic: New Forum re Classification Amendment Bill

Article: From: Michael Armitage, Member, 13-03-2001

"In response to Peter M.'s plea to discuss this Bill on talkingpoint, as
Minister for Information Economy I have asked the Attorney General to do
just this some time ago, and he has agreed to have a forum with a Moderator
from his office.
I shall chase his office today in the hope that it can be arranged asap.
(By the way, it is a weeny bit irking that we are being blamed for not
engaging in this sort of discussion on talkingpoint, when we get little or
no acknowledgement for being the first [and as far as I know the ONLY]
Government to have anything like this site, which at least promotes the
opportunity!!!!
It may be that we aren't perfect, but we ARE giving it a go!!)
I am eager to see the input to the forum when it begins.
Michael Armitage,
Minister for Information Economy"

Many citizens who "had a go" at getting answers from Ministers via the
forum are still waiting to receive answers.

Irene