Consultation

I feel this last comment could be expanded on. Interaction (online engagement) between government officials and citizens involves conversation. That may involve something easy like correcting information. It may involve sharing perspectives and knowledge that in turn fosters new insight and innovation. The challenge for public servants is having the authority and discretion to interact in that way. Mistakes might be made but the benefits make the risks worthwhile. I would like the issues paper to facilitate discussion around this area, one that I see is a huge challenge, including going into what may be politically sensitive issues.

Suggested substitute …a culture and capability for online engagement…

Having a willingness to engage is one thing. Having the capacity (through relevant skills and abilities) is another.

Perhaps the sentence should read “How can we build a culture within government which favours the disclosure of public sector information?”

While I applaud the shift from point to point to many to many, the language is likely to confuse many people. A description for Web 2.0 that I’ve found useful is that its about participation and interaction.