Australian NSW Government Making Way for Linux

seralick writes "Australian IT has reported that the Australian NSW government has established 'Australia's first whole-of-government panel to supply open source software and services to its departments and agencies.' Basically they have opened the way for the wide spread goverment usage of Linux software and services."

Wow!

[ta bu shi da yu]

I never thought I'd see this. I wonder if Bill Gates will fly in and offer massive discounting for govt depts, like he did for Telstra?

They'd be screwed without something like this

[Dancin_Santa]

In short, NSW put together a group of companies that can be considered "preferred service companies" for when something is b0rken on a government machine. Until now, each problem report had to be handled individually, but with the "panel" in place, each problem can be pooled with other problems and the fix postponed en masse rather ignored on an individual basis.

Not just Linux

[MichaelPenne]

They can use Moodle [moodle.org] for employee training, service learning, schools, colleges, etc.

And it's already translated into Australian (heck it's even translated into US for us 'mericans:-)!

Re:Wow!

[lemnik]

Although I don't think it's as formal the South African government has an open source program. No sooner was it annouched but they went out and spend millions on M$ software for schools. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me when more than half of our teachers want to resign due to lack of pay (do I smell a kickback?).

I would really like to see sucha program last.

Re:Wow!

[Anonymous Coward]

Telstra is the lamest company ever. They had systematically gouged Australians and set-back the broadband and other Internet based industries decades.

Bill Gates and Telstra deserve each other, scum bags.

My company made it on the panel

[exekewtable]

My company Solutions First (http://www.solutionsfirst.com.au [solutionsfirst.com.au]) made it on the panel right next to the multinationals. We are a relativly small IT firm that specialises in Linux solutions, even if most of our clients don't know it. We have been providing linux solutions for 5 years in our current form.
Nevertheless, this is a great thing for NSW. It means that all those government departments that previously had to submit a tender for linux services can now just call us up and we can help them.

There is a more detailed article here:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733 ,39187094,00.htm [zdnet.com.au]
we are listed as Sol1 in that list.

Its going to a great chance for our little company.

dave

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Wow!

[Technician]

Microsoft has been offering us free software. They have yet to mention what the catch is, so we'll have to see how it all turns out.


In many places the catch is convert all IT programs to MS only. It's the only thing you will ever need, so that's all that needs training.
Some places reject the offer as they train UNIX in one form or another and do not wish to be IIS only.

Re:Kangaroos Embracing Penguins?

[Matt_R]

Well the Penguin exhibit at Canberra zoo is very close to the 'roos.

Linus went to Canberra zoo once, they have this sign at the Penguin exhibit [shakesbeare.com] regarding the story behind Tux.

Re:Kangaroos Embracing Penguins?

[I confirm I'm not a]

We have native penguins in Australia

The inspiration for Tux, no less: [Linus Torvalds] really was bitten by a Little Penguin on a visit to Canberra [wikipedia.org]. Of course, Kiwi penguins are much better than Oz penguins ;-)
/slinks off...

Re:Wow!

[Petrushka]

In many places the catch is convert all IT programs to MS only. It's the only thing you will ever need, so that's all that needs training. Some places reject the offer as they train UNIX in one form or another and do not wish to be IIS only.

My latest example is when I tried applying for a job as a professor at a university in England (the application is still under way, so I will not name the university). The site is set up to accept covering letters and CV's only in Microsoft Word format: there is a notice expressly forbidding anything else.

On a happier note, I contacted the university to complain about the stunning degree of narrow-mindedness shown by this -- do they really want to exclude anyone who doesn't use Microsoft Word from consideration??? -- and they replied saying that they were extremely sorry and they'd be happy for me to e-mail pdf files to them.

Not quite OpenDocument support, but it's a start. And all without jeopardising my application. Yay!