Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software

Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software 167

Posted by timothy on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:52PM from the updated-fleecing-techniques dept.

James Roberts writes "AustralianIT is reporting today that the Australian Tax Office, or ATO (Australian IRS equivalent) has ditched its standard Microsoft SOE and will now adopt the Linux operating system 'where appropriate.' It was reported late last year that the ATO was originally considering Longhorn as its preferred SOE. This is a big step for Australian Federal Government, who have been slow in the uptake of open source policies despite ongoing petitioning by several high profile pressure groups."

Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software

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"Pressure groups" is such an ugly phrase (Score:3, Funny)

by ObviousGuy ( 578567 ) writes: <ObviousGuy@hotmail.com> on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:54PM (#8370163) Homepage Journal

Why not call them what they are, "non-profit sales teams"?

Here's a funny thought. The government saves money by not paying Microsoft licensing fees. Do they expect to return that windfall back to the tax payers?

In Other News (Score:5, Funny)

by wan-fu ( 746576 ) writes: on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:57PM (#8370186)

By using an Anton Pilar act [slashdot.org], SCO raided ATO offices demanding a AUD$904.32 (USD$699) licensing fee for each CPU.

Where appropriate (Score:5, Funny)

by gid13 ( 620803 ) writes: on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:59PM (#8370206)

As opposed to what they were doing before: adopting it where inappropriate! :)

Seriously though, is it just me or does that wording imply that they've been inappropriately using Windows? Maybe it's good they can admit such a thing.

Longhorn? (Score:5, Funny)

by Espectr0 ( 577637 ) writes: on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:59PM (#8370208) Journal

It was reported late last year that the ATO was originally considering Longhorn as its preferred SOE

What? How can they even consider an OS that won't be released for about 2 years?

Re:"Pressure groups" is such an ugly phrase (Score:5, Funny)

by evil_roy ( 241455 ) writes: on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:59PM (#8370214)

Funnier still is that the author considers LUGS high profile.

I don't think there is any such thing as a 'high profile' *UG

Open Source=save money? (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @12:02AM (#8370233)

You mean that there is free/inexpensive sofware that governments can use? I thought that they needed to pay tons of money for everything. That's just mind-boggling!

Great, Just Great... (Score:5, Funny)

by OECD ( 639690 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @12:04AM (#8370249) Journal

The frickin TAX OFFICE now has a reliable, free, software solution.
I'm going to have to rethink this whole Open Source thing...

Re:oh dear (Score:5, Funny)

by saramakos ( 693903 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @12:04AM (#8370257)

I am sorry - this does NOT mean you will get your Tax Return sooner.

It's not ATO... (Score:3, Funny)

by sashang ( 608223 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @12:20AM (#8370350)

it's GNU/ATO. In the future please correctly refer to the organization as GNU/ATO.
All your taxes belong to us.

Re:It can't be a full scale conversion. (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @01:02AM (#8370590)

If you've written code for the ATO, I wouldn't go bragging about it. Their database blows goats.

Re:Open Source is nice... (Score:3, Funny)

by ReyTFox ( 676839 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @01:09AM (#8370636)

"Free Money" sounds like a counterfeiting tool to me >.>

Re:Open Source is nice... (Score:5, Funny)

by AndroidCat ( 229562 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @01:12AM (#8370655) Homepage

Just what Australians need, GNU Taxes!

Re:oh dear (Score:3, Funny)

by askegg ( 599634 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @01:51AM (#8370857)

Taxelation = The joy of receiving your tax return, which lasts until you realise it was your money to begin with.

What? No Foster's? (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @02:14AM (#8370993)

ATO, Australian for robbery.

Tax or Tux? (Score:4, Funny)

by axxackall ( 579006 ) writes: on Tuesday February 24, 2004 @05:37AM (#8371673) Homepage Journal

I guess from now on we should call it "Australian Tux Office".

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Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software 167

Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software More Login

Australian Tax Office Adopts Open Source Software

"Pressure groups" is such an ugly phrase (Score:3, Funny)

In Other News (Score:5, Funny)

Where appropriate (Score:5, Funny)

Longhorn? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:"Pressure groups" is such an ugly phrase (Score:5, Funny)

Open Source=save money? (Score:2, Funny)

Great, Just Great... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:oh dear (Score:5, Funny)

It's not ATO... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:It can't be a full scale conversion. (Score:1, Funny)

Re:Open Source is nice... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Open Source is nice... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:oh dear (Score:3, Funny)

What? No Foster's? (Score:2, Funny)

Tax or Tux? (Score:4, Funny)

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