The aim of this forum is to discuss local regional issues on eLocal Government related to the National Broadband Network. Here we have the opportunity of imagining a future with superfast broadband, if we can suspend the burning questions (such as when and at what cost) and explore what are we going to do with it?

Specifically this forum aims to address topics that relate to applications, systems and broadband usage. It is an opportunity for us to think about not what we are doing now, but what do we want to do, what could we do, and how this might change service provision. A good place to start is the work of the Government 2.0 Taskforce (www.gov2.net.au).

One quote I liked from Nick Gruen was “Does your agency have useful information, release it and find out!” www.broadbandfuture.gov.au Gruen talks of a new world of Government 2.0 which is all about culture change, it will be about collaboration not control, improvising, sharing, allowing users to build value and being modular and adaptable by using other’s stuff and letting them use yours. The thing about this new world that strikes me is that it is a culture change that the whole Council needs to be involved in – no longer just the realm of IT managers. It has implications for all areas, planning, economic development, community services, parks and gardens…

Public sector information is a national resource – releasing as much of it on as permissive terms as possible maximises its value and reinforces democracy. One example, funded by the Taskforce, was for the development of the www.planningalerts.org.au website by the OpenAustralia Foundation, which will provide improved citizen access to local government planning applications (the source code for this website will also be made available for re-use and adaption to other government scenarios under an open source license).

So what are the possibilities and what are the implications?