[Linux-aus] FW: PRESS - Minister's Open Source Investigation

[Pia Smith]

Hi all,

I had this message a fortnight ago, and we were trying to figure out
whether a comment from Linux Australia was needed. I thought I'd forward
it to the list for comment :)

-------- Forwarded Message --------
> To: pia at linux.org.au
> Subject: FW: PRESS - Minister's Open Source Investigation
> Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2004 16:56:51 +1000 
> FYI Pia.
>  
> I am writing a news story for iTnews and possibly a more indepth
> analysis for InformationWeek magazine on this political clash. Would
> you be interested in making a comment? 
>  
> You may forward this to the Linux AU list if you would like, but
> please delete my contact details. 
>  
> Cheers!
>  
> 
> 
>                 Show us the investigation Minister...
>  
> 
> NSW Shadow Minister for Commerce, Chris Hartcher, today called on
> Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca, to release details of the
> Office of Information and Communication Technology's investigation
> into Open Source software.
> 
>  
> 
> Open source software differs from commercial or proprietary software
> in that the purchaser can see the underlying source code of the
> software. Usually the open source software is provided for free, but
> is implemented with surrounding hardware and support services.
> Commercial or proprietary software is provided for a price, which
> often does not include hardware and support services.
> 
>  
> 
> "Earlier this year, the Office of Information and Communication
> Technology launched an investigation into Open Source software and
> it's 'cost benefits' to Government Departments.
> 
>  
> 
> "This investigation was intended to run through the 04/05 financial
> year at a cost of $200,000.
> 
>  
> 
> "Instead, only three months later, the Department of Commerce has
> launched a tender for Open Source (Linux) Enterprise Software &
> Services.
> 
>  
> 
> Section: A 1.3.1, of the tender document is attached which includes
> the current position of the Department of Commerce concerning open
> source.
> 
>  
> 
> "If the Department has completed in three months what they themselves
> suggested should have been a year long investigation then the Minister
> must release the results of that investigation.
> 
>  
> 
> "The public of NSW has no confidence in the Minister for Commerce, who
> has trouble keeping his own website up to date, when it comes to I.T.
> 
>  
> 
> "The long term commercial risks of Open Source need to be investigated
> properly before the Department of Commerce makes any rash decisions. 
> 
>  
> 
> "While Open Source software may seem like a cheaper option in the
> short term, locking a Government agency into a situation where it has
> only one possible support provider now and into the future comes with
> obvious risks.
> 
>  
> 
> "The NSW Opposition recognises the need to investigate all options
> when it comes to reducing unnecessary costs to Government Departments
> and utilising all available technology. 
> 
>  
> 
> "The Minister for Commerce should be investigating every software
> option; if those investigations have not been concluded then no
> decisions should be made in relation to software tendering. If the
> investigations have been finalised then the Minister must immediately
> release their findings.
> 
>  
> 
> ENDS 1 October 2004
> 
> 
-- 
Pia Smith
President of Linux Australia
http://linux.org.au