Last week Labour announced a new way of developing policy. Out in the open, and involving you.
We are developing a policy on open and transparent government. And we set out the process that we’d use.We are inviting your views, your comments, your ideas and suggestions.
Today’s post sets out the guiding principles:
- That open engagement at all levels of government is integral to promoting an informed, connected and democratic community, to public sector reform, innovation and best use of the national investment in broadband.
- That using technology to increase collaboration in making policy and providing services will help achieve a more consultative, participatory and transparent government;
- That public sector data and information is a national resource, and releasing as much of it on as permissive terms as possible will maximise its economic and social value and reinforce a healthy democracy;
- That online engagement by public servants should be enabled and encouraged. Robust professional discussion benefits their agencies, their professional development, and the New Zealand public
- That Labour’s open government policy will be able to translate from opposition into government. That we can live up to what we say we will do.
Labour will carefully consider the implementation and political implications of input received before it is adopted as policy. We will inform participants of the real world constraints (political, logistical, financial) as part of the engagement process.
Now it’s up to you to contribute to this important discussion.
To find out how to contribute click here
keeping up with the this open labour conversation is time consuming, as it keeps moving to a new blog post. Can we have a category created please so I can subscribe to just that channel?
That the New Zealand Bill of Rights become superior law; legislation passed by Parliament can be struck down by a judicial mechanism if it is found to be inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.
I see this as a basic safety valve for a Open and transparent government. That citizens know and understand they have these rights as part of a “democratic community” and that a government or court cannot repress.
sorry posted last post in wrong place cheers please delete
Yes, time consuming. That’s the problem with this kind of thing. I find Red Alert at times draining enough. I don’t think I could handle open government on a full time basis. It will be a free for all for the fanatics.
I do acknowledge there are positives.
Where is the measures (or more accurately intent) to reform both Parliament’s openness and increase the public’s electoral power..? I already have the OIA for the public sector…
A great list
Suggestion – change:
That public sector data and information is a national resource, and releasing as much of it on as permissive terms as possible will maximise its economic and social value and reinforce a healthy democracy;
to:
That public sector data and information is a national resource, and should be promptly released free of charge as a matter of course with exceedingly rare exceptions. Doing so will maximise its economic and social value and reinforce a healthy democracy;
When an MP’s provide answers to any question that has not been researched by them personally,
1 – that they name all sources from whom they sought advice.
2 – name the sources of advice they decided would be included as best for answer supplied and summarise why.
3 – if the answer provided was not written by them, provide the name and position of those that wrote it.
Great initiative – well done Clare et al.
At this early stage, it is a little “untidy”, and hard to track the conversation (@BrendaWallace and @Principessa have made the same point). It feels like I am hearing one quarter of a conversation, and it is a great conversation that I would like to hear more of.
Not sure what the answer is, because I like the idea that the conversations are conducted in different spaces. Maybe a separate page om RedAlert that collects all tagged postings (from here, twitter, others).
Thanks am working on it. It is a bit untidy. But I can search for all the content and am summarising. Will post on this in next day or so< Clare