How would you like to be consulted in future? eg Meetings/Focus groups/Workshops * Online engagement (like Bang the Table) * telephone surveys * Combination of these * Other
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BlackAnnie Comment 1 29 May 2009, 11:08 PM
Yes
Combination of all these
magia3e Comment 1.1 30 Jun 2009, 2:47 PM
Actually being made aware that there's a consultation of some sort seems to be an issue. I don't think there's an RSS feed of ACT Gov news so how am I supposed to know what's going on? Visit the website? I don't think so!
Tara Comment 1.1.1 9 Aug 2009, 1:55 PM
I know this is an older post - but it's right on. In Canberra if you don't pay to subscribe to the Canberra Times you can miss information - actually sometimes it's even written up 'after the event'.
An RSS or being able to subscribe on FaceBook or to an email update on a topic is a great idea. I'm tired of finding out about things after the event.
This could also go for ACT Planning development application that are lodged and advertised over the Christmas period (don't tell me that's not a deliberate act to avoid wide nofication!) - anyway... it's like there is so much that could be done to improve communication - but is anyone really listening?
I know this is an older post - but it's right on. In Canberra if you don't pay to subscribe to the Canberra Times you can miss information - actually sometimes it's even written up 'after the event'. An RSS or being able to subscribe on FaceBook or to an email update on a topic is a great idea. I'm tired
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PigDog Comment 1.1.1.1 16 Sep 2009, 9:38 AM
I agree with magia3e and Tara. I would rather scoop my eyes out with a rusty teaspoon than read the Canberra Times or check the ACT Government website once a week. How is the public made aware of these consultation things? I only found out about Bang the Table from the RiotACT for instance (why no ads on the that site?). RSS feed is a good idea, but I still think you need to have public meetings (for the oldies etc).
Reddo Comment 2 30 May 2009, 2:12 PM
Yes to focus groups and workshops but no to public meetings.
Yes to online engagement
NO TO TELEPHONE SURVEYS!
Steffi Comment 2.1 30 May 2009, 4:08 PM
All but telephone surveys are suitable to me.
ListenUp Comment 2.1.1 25 Jun 2009, 7:52 AM
To solve the telephone polling issue but to also increase access, perhaps there could be a reverse system of voluntary phone polling (where the community member chooses to call in and either speaks to a person who is handling the survey, or answers questions using the phone keypad)...
BenD Comment 3 31 May 2009, 9:45 AM
No telephone surveys.
It doesn't matter much to me how consultation occurs but for it to work the ACT government needs to genuinely be engaged in the consultation process. I am yet to see consultation occur where a decision hasn't been made in advance of the consultation, making the whole process obsolete.
When people feel like their opinion isn't heard, they stop engaging in the community.
Craig Comment 4 1 Jun 2009, 3:17 PM
Online - and for heavens sake spell it correctly (not as on-line).
Use the other methods if necessary but unless there is an extremely strong personal interest, no-one other than the unemployed, aged or not working has time to attend physical sessions.
Max Hardy Comment 4.1 Project Coordinator 1 Jun 2009, 7:06 PM
Thanks for pointing out the spelling error. It has been corrected!
janice Comment 4.2 2 Jun 2009, 12:46 AM
I like online but I would take the time to get involved in a one on one meeting or in a small group if it was during school hours.
Like those above - No phone calls please!
Cat Comment 5 2 Jun 2009, 11:53 AM
No phone calls
Tower1801 Comment 5.1 4 Jun 2009, 5:57 PM
On line is far the best - but ensure that the discussion starts by having all the information relevant to the issue available in the web site then advise all registered members by email of the start of a new issue - allow plenty of time for robust debate.
crossy Comment 6 12 Jun 2009, 11:33 AM
I like to talk to people not in a mass meeting but one on one. Online is also good and let me join the chorus: DONT PHONE ME!!
Peter, Atkinson St Comment 7 12 Jun 2009, 1:24 PM
Let the relevant community make the decision. Then we will talk to each other, either over the fence, at the school, through our Facebooks and twitters, ring each other up at times we know we can disturb each other, etc. We are the ones who have to live with the outcomes, so let us wear the consequences of our opinions.
It is expensive to get consultants who have to drive from Newcastle to run meetings/focus groups at the range of times that suit all of us and they don't understand the local issues anyway. Give the local community the resources to figure it out for themselves. As Stanhope said, we are well educated, intelligent people. Let us use our abilities instead of playing games to disempower us in favour of the developers doing deals with the ALP.
Let the relevant community make the decision. Then we will talk to each other, either over the fence, at the school, through our Facebooks and twitters, ring each other up at times we know we can disturb each other, etc. We are the ones who have to live with the outcomes, so let us wear the consequences
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Kathy Comment 8 24 Jun 2009, 8:25 PM
Different issues may require different forms of consultation, but for any issues which are contentious, deliberative processes provide the best opportunity for achieving the best outcomes for those issues and for ensuring that people's views really have an impact in the decision making process. Other non-contentious issues may be appropriately addressed through other forms of consultation either with particular affected groups or through a combination of methods as proposed. I personally don’t much like on-line consultation, although that may be useful for identifying views prior to using a more effective deliberative method for examining options.
magia3e Comment 9 30 Jun 2009, 2:49 PM
Combination of channels are great, but knowing which ones to target for what sorts of issues and stakeholders is a difficult one.
I like it when I get targetted messages. I don't like the scatter-gun approach to consultation.
Please just make it relevant!
DJF Comment 10 5 Sep 2009, 11:57 AM
While it is outside the purview of this consultation on community engagement, I want to add the perspective of the wider region. Canberra, while a self-contained political entity, is in fact a hub for the wider region and many of the decisions made there have an impact on people even three hours drive away. Health and education come to mind, but public transport is also an issue for visitors to Canberra. So is housing, since so many young people from regional districts come to Canberra for higher education and work.
An increasing number of people commute to work to Canberra from regional towns, and I am wondering how their views are taken into account on these and other matters.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but there is a lack of mechanisms for the expression of views from non-Canberra voters. The new regional organisation for the SE region excludes Canberra - so this forum for regional views has been lost.
These 'border' issues aren't peculiar to Canberra, but Canberra might be better placed than other jurisdictions to deal with them.
Perhaps a register of interested regional citizens could be set up in the first instance and informed when a consultation is occurring.
While it is outside the purview of this consultation on community engagement, I want to add the perspective of the wider region. Canberra, while a self-contained political entity, is in fact a hub for the wider region and many of the decisions made there have an impact on people even three hours drive
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