app/views/documentation/how_to_lobby_your_local_council.html.haml
- content_for :page_title, "How to lobby your local council"
%h3= yield :page_title
%p
Here are just a few of the arguments that you can use when lobbying your local council to publish its planning data in a machine readable format. These are jumping off points to get you started.
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Be prepared for the first response being "No". That's normal. Have your arguments ready and be persistent.
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Use Mosman Council as an example of what good local councils can do. They provide a #{link_to "list of machine readable feeds", "http://portal.mosman.nsw.gov.au/pages/xc.track/ChooseFeed.aspx"} which are licensed under a #{link_to "Creative Commons licence", "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/"}.
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In NSW the
= link_to "Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009", "http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/viewtop/inforce/act+52+2009+FIRST+0+N/"
(the GIPA Act) places requirements on local councils to publish the information they hold
about development applications on their websites. For further arguments you can use, see the Federal Government's "#{link_to "Declaration of Open Government", "https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/AKCX6%22"}"
of 2010 in which it was stated that the government supports
%blockquote
“… strengthening citizen’s rights of access to information, establishing a pro-disclosure culture across Australian Government agencies including through online innovation, and making government information more accessible and usable”
%p
Would you like to discuss the best approach? Have questions? Then #{link_to "contact us", documentation_contact_path}.