E-government engagement and the digital divide

This paper connects e-government and digital divide literature to facilitate greater understanding of online civic engagement in Australia. Strong parallels exist between the four dimensions of the digital divide – access, skills, content, and impact – and the ways egovernment policy and practice shape citizen participation. Australian e-government initiatives at the federal and local level are outlined to highlight the types of citizen involvement they permit. This paper suggests that governments often equate improved information access and service delivery with online civic engagement, overlooking the importance of two-way participatory practices. If e-government is to advance to facilitate online civic engagement, greater emphasis must be placed on the capacity of citizens to contribute to, and influence, decision-making.