Back on 5 November in 1996
NSW joins Canberra on the Internet
Louise Dodson
Nov 5, 1996
The NSW Parliament has now joined the Federal Parliament with a range of parliamentary information available on the Internet.
However, the NSW Parliament World Wide Web site will provide the most comprehensive information.
It includes explanations about the operations, procedures and legislative processes in NSW, historical information, biographical information about all the ministers and members, daily Hansards, business papers, bills before the House and daily "whats
on" information for both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
"The development of this site gives the people of NSW unprecedented access to information about the workings of democracy in this State," the president of the Legislative Council, Mr Max Willis, said.
The speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr John Murray, promised it would be updated daily. "This will be a valuable education and business resource," he said.
The NSW Public Accounts Committee's Mr Jozef Imrich said the Web technology gives users the opportunity to bring government within easy reach of people irrespective of geographic barriers.
In the United States, the Government has developed an Interactive Citizen's Handbook, as an electronic guide through government agencies and departments to bring a new "town hall-style democracy" to the people.
The versatile Internet is also being used for telemedicine services. Australian medical technology company, Micromedical Industries, is using advanced Internet technologies for accessing doctors via a modem.
For instance, the Internet can be used for a heart check-up by uploading one's ECG to a central server.
Mr Peter Ludemann, the chairman of Micromedical Industries, said: "We have paved the way for a system which is accessible to remote communities, the home bound or even the world's fitness enthusiasts who want access to online medical expertise."
