Galvanising the Fourth Estate The National Forum e-Petition site Graham Young Executive Director The National Forum 17 th August, 2005

Why is the fourth estate fourth? Newest comer Newest comer In modern times the fourth has become first In modern times the fourth has become first Communities rarely form around government consultations Communities rarely form around government consultations Communities that form around politicians are called political parties Communities that form around politicians are called political parties Media organisations invariably form, or form from, community. Media organisations invariably form, or form from, community.

What is the National Forum Media organisation formed to use the ‘net for explicitly democratic purposes Media organisation formed to use the ‘net for explicitly democratic purposes Town Square Town Square Shopping Centre of Ideas Shopping Centre of Ideas Producer’s Co-op Producer’s Co-op eDemocracy project eDemocracy project

The National Forum 230,000 site visits per month 230,000 site visits per month 70,000 individual readers per month 70,000 individual readers per month 700,000 page views per month 700,000 page views per month 8,000 people on regular lists 8,000 people on regular lists 16,000 profiles. 16,000 profiles. Australian population 20 million Australian population 20 million

Concept Any of us should be able to enter the site and engage with, and/or act upon, political information as it suits us, and to whatever level suits us.

Meeting in the middle  A problem or need  Discussion/Debate  Resolution of the discussion into a proposition or series of propositions  Determination of a majority position on the proposition  Consent of the governed  Action Community Government

Stages Passively consume – entry level of complexity Passively consume – entry level of complexity Investigate – research tools and information should be readily available – more detailed level of complexity Investigate – research tools and information should be readily available – more detailed level of complexity Discuss – forums and one-to-one discussion potentially with authors, researchers, legislators etc. Discuss – forums and one-to-one discussion potentially with authors, researchers, legislators etc. Organise - hook-up with others to influence outcomes Organise - hook-up with others to influence outcomes Interact with the institutions of democracy Interact with the institutions of democracy

Method Posted poll Posted poll Poll also in the form of a parliamentary petition Poll also in the form of a parliamentary petition Sponsored by members – Rights Australia and Marise Payne Sponsored by members – Rights Australia and Marise Payne Supported by articles: p?article=3514 Supported by articles: p?article= p?article= p?article=3514

Method cont. Supported by forum debate: 119 comments on Georgiou article alone Supported by forum debate: 119 comments on Georgiou article alone119 comments 119 comments Allowed votes for (6,051)and against (39) and comments. Allowed votes for (6,051)and against (39) and comments.6,051396,05139 Viral marketing – s to subscription lists, advertising script, draft Viral marketing – s to subscription lists, advertising script, draft Validated address and created profiles Validated address and created profiles Linked signatories to electorates Linked signatories to electorates

Method cont… Petition tabled in Senate Petition tabled in Senate Each MHR received an with a merge file of their constituents and their responses Each MHR received an with a merge file of their constituents and their responses Reported back to signatories Reported back to signatories Followed-up with signatories on responsiveness of MPs Followed-up with signatories on responsiveness of MPs

Results Government compromised. Poll, particularly results, must have played a part Government compromised. Poll, particularly results, must have played a part A related petition involving another politician - Anna Burke - to follow. A related petition involving another politician - Anna Burke - to follow. Metric introduced as “carrot and stick” to encourage MPs to respond. Metric introduced as “carrot and stick” to encourage MPs to respond. Sponsors and others have contact details and tools to continue conversation. Sponsors and others have contact details and tools to continue conversation.

Theoretical considerations - Morrisett Widespread and effective access to decision- makers Widespread and effective access to decision- makers provision of relevant and timely information provision of relevant and timely information interaction within and between institutionally, politically or geographically distinct networked communities interaction within and between institutionally, politically or geographically distinct networked communities access to various positions in relation to policy issues access to various positions in relation to policy issues the capacity to register choices, and awareness of the implications of different choices the capacity to register choices, and awareness of the implications of different choices

Morrisett cont. evidence that such deliberations have informed actions by governing institutions or elected representatives in relation to those issues evidence that such deliberations have informed actions by governing institutions or elected representatives in relation to those issues

Theoretical Considerations - Coleman Aesthetics (Culture of Sobriety) Aesthetics (Culture of Sobriety) Metrics Metrics

Fourth Estate the Enfolding Estate Internet blurs boundaries between media and publications Internet blurs boundaries between media and publications Vast bulk of the Internet is concerned with “vanity publishing” Vast bulk of the Internet is concerned with “vanity publishing” Communities form more readily around media than organs of government. Communities form more readily around media than organs of government. Some part of the democratic disconnect to do with perception that politics exploits, rather than is part of, community. Some part of the democratic disconnect to do with perception that politics exploits, rather than is part of, community.