The Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee has pleasure in submitting its final report on the Inquiry into Electronic Democracy.
The ways Parliamentarians conduct their work has changed dramatically during the time the Subcommittee Chair has been a Member of Parliament. Once concerned whether they could get sufficient access to the typing pool, MPs now demand they be allowed to join their Parliamentary notebooks to their home broadband network to permit them to work more efficiently and communicate with their colleagues and constituents.
The Committee conducted the Inquiry by the usual means such as written submissions, hearings, meetings and visits. In keeping with an Inquiry into the use of Information and Communications Technologies in the democratic process, the Committee made a point of also using newer technologies. These included Blogging by handheld devices, conducting an electronic discussion list, and holding a video conference.
The use of audio and video conferencing saved time and money in interviewing interstate witnesses and provided the Committee with valuable information. While we are able to treat this material as part of our research we were advised that we were not allowed to table this as evidence. This shows that in an area regulating how Parliamentarians work, the Law has failed to keep up with technological change and itself needs changing.
Governments around the Western World have become proficient in Electronic Governance, providing large amounts of information electronically and allowing citizens to conduct transactions such as making payments to Government online.
The challenge and the opportunity provided by electronic democracy are providing the means by which citizens can more fully participate in the decisions which affect their lives.
Professor Pippa Norris of Harvard University – in her book “Digital Divide” had this to say:
The Information and Communications Technology Age is a time of excitement and wonderment at new possibilities offered by the latest technologies and devices. However, at the same time a sober assessment needs to be made of their nett benefit.
So for instance, the Committee recommends the introduction of electronic voting machines for the vision impaired on the basis that it is a pilot, the machines are secure as they are not connected to the Internet, and there is a clear public benefit.
However the Committee does not recommend the introduction of Internet voting at this time because there are concerns about the integrity of the system while there is, in the Australian context, no demonstrable public benefit.
In the UK where voting is not compulsory the public attitudes are canvassed in an article at Silicon.com, “UK voters fear election fraud” Will Sturgeon, March 30, 2005:
I would like to thank the current and previous Members of the subcommittee of the 55th Parliament for their work on this Report and their individual contributions to the Inquiry. These Members are the Hon. Lidia Argondizzo MLC, the Hon. Andrew Brideson MLC, Mr Peter Lockwood MLA, the Hon. Andrew Olexander MLC, Mr Jude Perera MLA and Mr Murray Thompson MLA.
I would like to recognise the work of the Members of the Committee of the 54th Parliament, which has been very useful in the preparation of this Report. The Subcommittee wishes to extend its appreciation to Mr Andrew Monaghan of Multimedia Victoria, who served as the project officer for the Inquiry of the 54th Parliament, and who provided the Subcommittee with considerable time and assistance in reviewing information collected during 2002.
Importantly, I wish to thank our Inquiry consultant, Dr Peter Chen, Visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Public Policy, for his excellent research and analysis, and his organisational work during the course of the Inquiry and in the preparation of the report. Peter brought dedication, commitment and vast knowledge to the Inquiry. I believe the standing of this inquiry was enhanced by having as its consultant, an academic who is so highly respected by his peers.
Finally, I wish to thank the Executive Officer of the Committee, Mr Andrew Homer, for his guidance, advice and wise counsel. I also thank Mr Simon Dinsbergs for his outstanding work in assisting and supporting the Committee’s logistical needs, Ms Sonya Caruana for her administrative support and Ms Renée Otmar for her first-rate work in editing the final report.
The Subcommittee has found this Inquiry to be challenging, but interesting and worthwhile. I believe that the Subcommittee’s recommendations, if adopted, will make significant improvement to the democratic process in Victoria, enhancing the opportunities for civic participation from the Victorian community and improving the policy making processes of Government and the Parliament.
Mr Michael Leighton MLA
Chairperson
Electronic Democracy Subcommittee
Ms Lily D’Ambrosio MLA
Chairperson
Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee
April 2005