Updated on 29 May 1996 by ausweb96@scu.edu.au

AusWeb96 - Example Theme

Factors Affecting the Spread of Electronic Democracy in the Australian Public Sector

Karin Geiselhart u833885@student.canberra.edu.au

Karin Geiselhart is on study leave from the Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet, (Office of the Status of Women), undertaking a PhD on how
interactive technologies can contribute to the policy process.
In her paper, she discusses the possibilities of electronic democracy in
government in relation to industrial democracy, and looks at the factors
both encouraging and inhibiting this in the Australian Public Service. She
proposes a concept of accountability which overtly includes social goals,
and suggests that Internet technologies can make the policy process more
accountable though improved responsiveness, transparency, and evaluation. As
employment in the public sector becomes more like that of the private
sector, the danger is that short-term thinking will take over.

As public affairs officer in the Office of the Status of Women, and editor
of their national newsletter, Karin introduced the Internet to OSW several
years ago, seeing its potential to reduce consultation costs while expanding
the flow of information. As a member of the TLC executive, she was also
instrumental in a proposal with the ACT Trades and Labor Council in Canberra
to set up a cybercafe with a community training and development perspective.
She has recently co-authored a book 'Australia's New Aged - Issues for Young
and Old' with John McCallum, now Dean of Health at the University of Western
Sydney. (to be published by Allen and Unwin later this year)
Updated on 29 May 1996 by ausweb96@scu.edu.au
AusWeb96 - The Second Australian World Wide Web Conference, 7th to 9th of July 1996, at the Conrad Jupiters Hotel, Gold Coast, Australia. Contact: Ms Julie Burton, Norsearch Conference Services at Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Phone (066) 20 3000 (From outside Australia +61 66 20 3000) Fax: (066) 22 1954 (From outside Australia +61 66 22 1954). Email: ausweb96@scu.edu.au.