Talkfest to boost AU government use of open source - News - Software

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Talkfest to boost AU government use of open source

By James Pearce, ZDNet Australia
October 14, 2003
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Talkfest-to-boost-AU-government-use-of-open-source/0,130061733,120279695,00.htm

The Australian Unix Users Group and Linux Australia have joined forces to hold a conference on using open source software in government, to coincide with Linux.conf.au, the national Linux conference.

The conference on open source in government is titled The Challenges, and is the first time the organisation for Unix and open source professionals, AUUG, has worked with Linux Australia, which is mostly Linux enthusiasts.

"[The conference aims to] get people together to share their experience and learn from each other," Gordon Hubbard, treasurer of AUUG told ZDNet Australia . He said communication between different entities about things like implementing open source solutions only seemed to happen at conferences. "The networking is really good. Networking in a people sense."

He said the conference expected to attract speakers from high levels of government departments who had implemented extensive open source solutions.

"There are some people who are dipping their toe in [using open source software] and they'll be able to talk to people who have gone further," said Hubbard.

The issue of using open source software in government has become contentious since Democrat Senator Brian Greig tabled a private members' bill that would compel IT managers to consider open source software when making purchasing decisions. The bill immediately drew critics, who labelled legislation for open source "ridiculous".

"We don't agree with legislation," said Hubbard. "We don't actually think it will work. We believe there needs to be a level playing field and that may require changes in the way policies are implemented." He added education was important, also.