Engaging Communities Online - A Queensland Perspective

Hogarth F¹*, Hansen R²*

1. Democracy Policy, Strategic Policy Directorate, Department of Communities, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2. Queensland Parliamentary Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The presentation outlines the emergence of Queensland’s eDemocracy agenda and the community engagement policy context within which it is positioned. An overview of Queensland’s current eDemocracy initiatives – ePetitions, the internet broadcast of Parliament, the online consultation tool ConsultQld and the community engagement website www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au provides a snapshot of online community engagement in Queensland.

Online engagement in Queensland is characterised by an approach that aims to complement and value-add to the traditional approaches used by government. Our eDemocracy agenda is underpinned by both policy and evaluation frameworks. It aims to increase opportunities for people and communities to interact with government and explore how information and communication technologies can enhance participatory democracy in Queensland.

The approach to online engagement undertaken by the Queensland Government relies on the development of partnerships across government. This presentation demonstrates in particular, the partnership that has been built between the Department of Communities and the Queensland Parliamentary Service. This partnership has been critical to the successful and ongoing implementation of ePetitions and the internet broadcast of Parliament.

A number of the benefits and challenges of online engagement, based on the Queensland Government’s experience, are examined. During the presentation issues emerging from the evaluations of the eDemocracy initiatives are identified and considered in relation to broader, and more traditional, techniques of engagement.

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