The following was sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and I feel is of general interest. I've been away for just over a week so am not sure if you've all heard this before.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 12:17:37 +1000 From: Arthur Chesterfield-Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Linux answer 26/10/04 in NSW Upper Hpouse Some progress is being made in Open Source software in NSW. I enclose Minster Della Bosca's answer to a question without notice yesterday. GOVERNMENT SOFTWARE SUPPLIERS The Hon. ROBYN PARKER: My question is directed to the Minister for Commerce. Has the Minister investigated whether his department's recent tender to establish a panel of suppliers to provide open source or Linux software to the State Government will have the effect of creating two vendor panels, one for proprietary software and one for open source software in his department? How will these panels be managed and who will determine which contracts are to be provided to each panel of suppliers? The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I think the honourable member may be a little confused about the difference between open source and proprietary software. Open source software allows access to and sharing of a software source code. It is widely used in both the private and public sectors. In New South Wales it has been particularly used in the provision of Internet services by departments that have requirements to intensively use the Internet. When open source software has been adopted by governments or individual government agencies it is usually for privacy, security or cost reasons. Taxpayers rightly expect the Government to get the best value from its information and communications technology expenditure. The Government wants to ensure that there are potential cost benefits. When its use is appropriate New South Wales government agencies are free to consider the use of open source software. One potential benefit of open source software is that it has been found to encourage the development of local information technology organisations, particularly small and medium-size enterprises providing software support and other services. The New South Wales Government's open source project aims to share information on open source software with a view to explaining its potential use within the New South Wales Government, both externally and to relevant officers and agencies within government. An agency reference group supports the project and provides communications mechanisms to facilitate discussion on the use of open source software applications and operating environments, and the sharing of information between agencies. A template for comparing the costs of various software solutions has been developed to assist agencies to assess open source software options, and it is currently under evaluation by agencies. A web site is being established at www.opensource.nsw.gov.au to provide information on open source technologies and their application in government. The web site will act as a central repository for government agencies wishing to know more about open source software. Currently, several case studies are being written to document trials or the implementation of open source software in various agencies, and they should be available later in 2004. <15> On 29 September the Department of Commerce released the request for tender that the honourable member originally asked about to open source for Linux Enterprise Software Services. A number of government agencies are now using or considering open source software and have requested access to better support services in their open source solutions. Agencies seeking open source software and services will be able to go straight to a list of suppliers and select the one that best meets their needs. That is essentially the answer to the honourable member's question. This means agencies will not have to spend time and money calling for their own tenders and evaluating bids, which they did previously, as the only government panel available for software was the proprietal software panel. The request for tenders focuses on Linux, as this has been the most popular and well supported open source operating system on the market today. Many proprietary products along with open source applications are now compatible with the Linux operating system. Requests for tenders close on 28 October and a new two-year panel contract is expected to be in place by the end of December. While the number of suppliers to be selected is flexible, it is anticipated the contract will comprise a panel of about 10 vendors able to provide agencies with Linux support services and training. I emphasise that the New South Wales Government is not interested in entering a political debate about open source software versus proprietary software or of joining a particular faction in that debate. We want the best value for taxpayers' dollars, whether it be open source software or proprietary software. Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MLC NSW Parliamentary Leader Australian Democrats ph: 02 9230-2303 fax: 02 9230-2866 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get a new perspective on NSW at ACE's website, www.chesterfieldevans.com -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
