Reader riposte: ONA's new website

Allan Gyngell is the founding Executive Director of the Lowy Institute:

After Sam's irritating but justified reminder of my earlier railings on The Interpreter about the website of the Office of National Assessments, which I now head, let me break the news here that ONA goes live today with a new site. 

True, it's not the most dynamic website around, and given that we are a secret intelligence organisation, it never will be. Most of our reports will emerge in public only when they're released from the national archives. So readers keen on understanding the world will still need to go to think tanks like Lowy, ASPI, Brookings or IISS for their daily take.  

But I hope the new site will explain better what ONA is – no, we're not the Audit Office – and what intelligence analysis is all about. I particularly hope it will diminish the danger that bright young people looking for a job in international relations will take one look at our website and decide to head for the nearest think tank or consultancy. 

Features include testimonials from alumni (some known to Interpreter readers), a timeline on Australia and international events since ONA's formation and the opportunity for visitors to register interest in future jobs. Any comments on the site, or ideas for what should be on it, are welcome at feedback@ona.gov.au. Just keep hold of a modest sense of what's possible.