ABS chief David Kalisch is pushing for data linkage across all levels of government and the private sector, but he thinks his fellow data geeks need to get out more. He wants more support in the struggle to build public trust and explain the benefits. Read More
Done poorly, public participation in government decision-making can rub salt into the wound for irritated citizens and stakeholders. The Victorian auditor general hopes to push agencies to improve their public engagement efforts. Read More
Government needs to address the widespread impression it is out of touch. Can new models of public engagement, like direct democracy and citizen juries, help? Read More
DETOXING DEMOCRACY: What is the case for deliberative democracy, and why would we put ourselves through 'sortition'? As our institutions fall in respect and effectiveness, we can't afford not to consider such ideas, argues Nicholas Gruen. Read More
EXCLUSIVE: New research presented at the World Economic Forum should give governments reason to consider how much of the credibility crisis they face was self-inflicted. Yet, for Australia and its neighbours, there is reason for optimism. Read More
ALL THINGS P: Don't ask for more information than you need — and make it clear why you're asking what you're asking. It'll get you better feedback, and probably a better outcome. Read More
Apart from the organisational benefits that plain English brings, there are personal reasons every CEO or government executive should embrace writing reform. Here's the top 10. Read More
ONLINE LAUNCH: A new hub on The Mandarin for the inescapable world of government engagement and communications. All Things P brings together the best practitioners to guide you. Read More
PART TWO: Under the leadership of Ben Rimmer, the City of Melbourne is embracing digital and becoming more responsive to ratepayers. Even its rubbish bins are getting smarter. Read More
There's an enormous economic return in making government communication — internally and externally — easier to read. And while documents drive government it can help agencies make better decisions. Read More
The United States' first social media president made an unprecedented trip to the festival of digital creativity this weekend to recruit technologists to help make the federal government work better. Read More
FEATURE: We have the technology to allow citizens to have more input in policymaking, but nothing will improve without willing governments and informed citizens. The growing debate on crowdsourcing. Read More
Democracies get into trouble when the judgement of experts supplants listening to the people it is supposed to represent, says South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill. In an op-ed for DemocracyRenewal, Weatherill says the use of experts -- "scientists, specialists in particular fields of knowledge and bureaucrats who come up with 'rational' answers to issues that they decide are the problem the community should think about" -- is important, but if overzealous can disenfranchise people and create distrust in government. "Governments that have failed to recognise this and simply sought to impose change have found their reform agendas floundering and have heightened citizens’ mistrust of politics. Compounding the problem, governments that choose to find ways to more meaningfully involve citizens in policy-making are likely to find their bureaucracies inadequately equipped for the task." Read More
The digital era allows government to speak to citizens more easily than ever -- but are agencies taking the opportunity? A podcast on engagement and publishing for government. Read More
There are lessons for policymakers from the snowy wilds of Finland. A crowdsourcing strategy engaged locals in a tricky transport solution. The architects offered Australian bureaucrats their advice. Read More
