The OpenLabourNZ conference
August 30th, 2010 at 10:00 am by David FarrarThe NZ Herald reports:
Need Winz advice or want to challenge Government policy? Just leave a comment on the minister’s Facebook page.
An open, transparent government should interact with the public using the internet and social media, the Labour Party says.
The party held its first OpenLabourNZ conference at the weekend, promising to improve transparency and ways the public can engage the Government. …
Kiwiblogger and National Party member David Farrar, who attended the conference, said it remained to be seen what the Labour Party would adopt.
“But they’ve been having a good open process to get people’s ideas. Often in policy development, a party is pretty opaque, where you just see what comes out in the end.”
The highlights for me were the video contributions from Andrew Raseij from the US, and Senator Kate Lundy of Australia. The best ideas are often already being implemented somewhere else, and this was no different. We also had Senator Lundy’s advisor, Pia Waugh, who was a non stop source of good ideas and enthusiasm.
Turnout was a bit down on what I expected for an event like this, but it was good to see half a dozen MPs there, including Phil Goff. Culture changes only happen if the leadership buys into it – otherwise it becomes a silo.
The Open Labour Wiki will be updated with some of the ideas from the conference, and I look forward to seeing what formal policy emerges from the process.
Tags: Labour, OpenLabourNZ
August 30th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Did Phil Goff have any comment to make on their attempt to shut down political speech just 1.5 years ago? Only by electing a different government was that prevented. I mean, how believable can you be with your open government initiative if all the people on the front bench were en masse opposed to that?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Just leave a comment on the ministers facebook page?? fuck off.
didnt 30,000 people join a group on facebook last week saying they would riot in the streets if the all blacks didnt win a world cup??
wannabe politicians so eager to adapt and look “cool” and millions of angry net people who just write whatever comes into their mind (kinda like me on here) is not a good mix.
whats next?? “we have a mandate to increase annual leave to 6 weeks a year because 100,000 people clicked “like” on facebook”
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 10:37 am
@berend – you’re right. Oppositions always sing about the need for openness (Labour with OpenLabourNZ today), while incumbents seem deliberate about suppression (Last Labour govt EFA, current National govt Foreshore&Seabed [where are those submissions..?])
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 10:43 am
DPF – Sorry buddy, you are in danger of becoming part of the “political class”.
Look elsewhere and you will see that the political class are losing influence.
Vote:So, in 2010, someone from USofA and someone from Aus comes to town and we are all supposed to take note.
Please……
August 30th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I have to say I am deeply skeptical of what Labour is doing here.
Yes, transparency is usually always preferred, but the concern is if this transparency and feedback is then used as a lever to add legitimacy to “democratise” i.e. collectivise even more of the economy. One can very easily imagine an open and transparent process which genuinely took and made use of feedback from users, which decided which model of shower head should be installed in every bathroom in every new home. Or what one of five colours all cars should be. It isn’t any defence at all of these horrible examples to say there was a process and we used your feedback – yet that is exactly what the collectivists will argue.
Labour is not a political party which respects the individual or freedom. As Berend points out, this is the party which wrote and voted for the EFA. If Labour is a party so desperate for power that they’re willing to tip democracy itself in their favour then I’m not about to trust them on open anything.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Have to say what was at the the wiki link was different to what I thought it would be. I thought I’d see a collection of ideas on more ways to spend other peoples’ money. Instead it talked about limitations of government and recognising that as a way to improve services. All very sensible.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
DPF – did you hear any good ideas?
[DPF: Yes there were quite a few good ideas there. What we have yet to see is if they make it into formal policy]
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I hear Daffy Mallard will be the leader of the openness/transparency section of the “OpenLabourNZ” initiative as he has shown that he is open to all suggestions on the way forward for Labour. This has been noted by the Labour Leaders with Redalert.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
I hope this means that the CONSTITUENCY is given more power; by opening the flood-gates of consultation during controversial proposals like section 59, junk food in schools, and so fourth.
Transparency should be reflected across the board, not just for government.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
I hope this means that the CONSTITUENCY is given more power; by opening the flood-gates of consultation during controversial proposals
Fale you must be talking about the Super City and the Million or so constituents of Auckland who have been shafted by Nact ………..or something like that aye?
or all those who voted against the anti-smacking bill after National supported when it was introduced and then ignored the referendum,
or perhaps the hundreds and thousands of people who are against National standards that are being ignored
or maybe you’re implying that consultation has been ignored by the way this govt has been abusing Urgency in the house to get things pushed through. (Twice as much as any govt before)
Yep I agree with you – give the constituency more power!!!
Vote: