Presentation by Maria Katsonis, Victorian Government, Department of Premier and Cabinet, September 14, 2010.

Discusses the Victorian Government's Government 2.0 Action plan, what is Government 2.0 and how it differs from Government 1.0, how the plan came about, what are the constraints and benefits, the four action areas of the plan, the fourteen initiatives associated with the plan, how it is being implemented and what has been said in the public arena about it.

Introduction

Government 2.0 involves direct citizen engagement in conversations about government services and public policy through open access to public sector information and new Internet based technologies. It also encapsulates a way of working that is underpinned by collaboration, openness and engagement.

The application of the underlying principles and approaches of Web 2.0 are redefining how people communicate and are transforming the web into a platform of participation and co-production. This transformation extends to the public sector where Web 2.0 tools can deepen democratic processes through participation; support policy development through open consultation; and tailor the delivery of services to meet citizens' needs for personalisation and choice.

This Government 2.0 Action Plan provides the foundation for a whole of Victorian Public Service approach to Government 2.0. It recognises that new approaches, processes and technologies such as social media, wikis, and blogs can put the citizen at the centre in a more open and collaborative relationship with government. It also means a shift in how we work, with an increased emphasis on transparency and collaboration. There are already pockets of innovative Government 2.0 practice in the VPS, ranging from the use of Twitter to keep the public informed during emergencies through to using Facebook to bring together small business owners and prospective owners for networking and information sharing. The Victorian Government has also committed to open access to public sector information in its response to the 2009 Parliamentary Inquiry into Improving Access to Victorian Public Sector Information and Data. Opening up public sector data and information is a major opportunity to increase engagement with the community and realise a range of social and economic benefits.

The Government 2.0 Action Plan focuses on the following priority areas:

1. Driving adoption in the VPS > Leadership
2. Engaging communities and citizens > Participation
3. Opening up government > Transparency
4. Building capability > Performance

There are 14 initiatives under these four action areas, aimed at engaging and empowering citizens, making government more transparent and improving government capability. Our approach to implementation is think big, start small and scale fast.

In the spirit of collaboration and co-production, the Action Plan was developed through extensive consultation and an open wiki process. It sits alongside the VPS Innovation Action Plan and both Plans represent our commitment to developing a leading edge Victorian Public Service that delivers better outcomes for the Victorian community.

The Government 2.0 Action Plan will continue to develop as we harness the ideas and energy already evident in the Victorian Public Service.

Helen Silver, Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet

Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Transport

Penny Armytage, Secretary, Department of Justice

Richard Bolt, Secretary, Department of Primary Industries

Yehudi Blacher, Secretary Department of Planning and Community Development

Peter Dawkins, Secretary, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Gill Callister, Secretary, Department of Human Services

Bruce Hartnett, Chair, State Services Authority

Greg Wilson, Secretary, Department of Sustainability and Environment

Simon Overland, Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police

Grant Hehir, Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance

Fran Thorn, Secretary, Department of Health

Howard Ronaldson, Secretary, Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development

Four action areas

The Government 2.0 Action Plan provides a systematic approach to the use of Web 2.0 applications and tools such as wikis, blogs, and social networking sites to engage with citizens, develop policy and deliver services.

Research has found that usage of social media and social networking sites has increased with 45% of Australians reporting regular use, up from 38% in 2008. This growth is across all age groups although there are differences in patterns and type of use between age groups. For example, older Australians are now responsible for expanding the reach of online social networking, indicating that Web 2.0 is not just a Gen Y phenomenon. There has also been a significant increase in use of the Internet to interact with government and a corresponding reduction in traditional methods of communication, such as by mail or in-person.

All of this points to social media becoming part of citizens' online activity. The Government 2.0 Action Plan seeks to leverage the opportunities of Web 2.0 in opening up government and providing stronger citizen engagement. At the same time, the Plan seeks to proactively manage risk and build capability.

The Action Plan focuses on four key areas:

1. Driving adoption in the VPS > Leadership

• providing strong leadership and addressing whole of government issues to drive adoption in the VPS.

2. Engaging communities and citizens > Participation

• using Government 2.0 initiatives to put citizens at the centre and provide opportunities for co-design, co-production and co-delivery.

3. Opening up government > Transparency

• making government more open and transparent through the release of public sector data and information.

4. Building capability > Performance

• managing risk and skilling up the VPS workforce in a digital age.

Each action area has a suite of initiatives which are outlined overleaf.

Government 2.0 Action Plan Initiatives

1. Driving adoption in the VPS

1.1 Department leadership projects: each department to implement a Government 2.0 project by 30 June 2011.

1.2 Whole of government taskforce: establishment of a Taskforce to drive implementation and provide a forum for collaboration and sharing ideas and practice.

1.3 Privacy and records guidance: development of whole of Government privacy and records guidance.

1.4 Social media guidance: development of whole of Government guidance for public servants when interacting with social media.

2. Engaging communities and citizens

2.1 Have Your Say: whole of Government website to facilitate online discussion between citizens and government using the latest Web 2.0 tools.

2.2 Public Records 2.0: the creation of Web 2.0 spaces to allow community participation in accessing the State's public records.

2.3 Regulatory governance wiki: an online information repository to improve the operational performance of regulators.

2.4 Citizen centric services: involving the community in service delivery and policy development.

3. Opening up government

3.1 VPS Hack: an event where VPS developers, designers and people with ideas gather to build apps using Victorian public sector data.

3.2 data.vic.gov.au: Rollout of the beta directory site making Victorian public sector data available to the community for use and re-use.

3.3 Information Management Framework: development of an Information Management Framework with standards and measures for sharing data.

4. Building capability

4.1 Managing risk: resources to support managing the risks associated with social media.

4.2 Government 2.0 toolbox: development of resources and toolkits to support the uptake of Government 2.0 in the VPS.

4.3 Sharing ideas and best practice: seminars and workshops on using Web 2.0 tools and the development of good practice case studies.