Many of my closest followers would know my true passion is marketing. To give you some idea of my passion as a marketer, I am one of those people who stands in the supermarket wondering how individual brands can compete with ‘Safeway Select’ or ‘home brand’ products before I buy. I sit there wondering how much money is being lost by pointless marketing when all it comes down to is the position Coles or Safeway give you on their supermarket shelves. I don’t want to delve to far away from the point of my post but what I have just mentioned is good food for thought.

The purpose of this post is to discuss the impressive developments in the australian government websites. Before I begin expressing my thoughts I want to describe the media by which I was exposed to the new Australian Government website: http://www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au/  As a long time listener of any radio station, I myself am surprised that so few advertising agency’s continue to promote there phone number above their website, I heard an add explaining new features of a website called australia.gov.au so i was eager to learn more.

My first impressions were made on the home page, it came across as a passionate approach which added depth to Australia’s values and natural beauty. The site is full of impressive photography of monumental landscapes and national icons which really works well for it’s content. The site is extremely easy to navigate and for those who don’t remember the old government website, visit the Tax departments web site… It’s a nightmare! The difference between the old and the new is astounding, the pages look empty but are easy to navigate and users are quickly directed to the content they are looking for. This is a big change from the old site which throws everything it has at you on first contact, and lets you find your way through. This site is calm and precise, categories are easy to navigate and there is a real fresh approach to the delivery of content. Finally, it appears some one let the government know about the concept of web 2.0!

The main thing I want to focus on is the new economic stimulus site. This is designed and delivered better than a multi million dollar corporation trying to sell you every product they have got on offer. This site is clearly outlined, icons are used as navigation tools which creates an impressive header to the site and actual video players are built into the site (John Howard used to make you download his video’s in a format that didn’t even work on a mac!). The site is full of content and straight away you feel as thought the government is really trying to make an effort to share it’s information with you. Kevin Rudd has done a wonderful Job at evolving with the web, rather than his predecessor and (although I didn’t vote for him) I am pleased to see some one putting there money where their mouth is instead of talking about how things should be. I am happy to have someone who has obviously been the person pushing the changes in these sites being the one who is building my National Broadband Network. The only thing I would suggest is the creation of social space for people to add comments, ask video/written/audio questions and provide answers to these questions, as well as invitations to network with our P.M. through his Twitter and facebook sites etc.

One last thing…

… I wonder what it would be like if people could make accounts on your site and monitor their Medicare, Center Link, Passport and other government related products. You guys could run your show like a google of the Government. There is a lot of potential and a hell of a lot of motivation for entrepreneurs around the country. Just an idea…

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