I did a google search for "mallard linux site:.nz" and found the a transcript of Q&A time at the Beehive.
from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0312/S00130.htm "1. DAVID BENSON-POPE (LabourâDunedin South) to the Minister of Education: What steps have been taken to ensure that schools have ready access to reliable anti-virus software? Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education): Free anti-virus software for State and State-integrated schools will be available from the beginning of next year. A large number of schools currently do not have quality anti-virus software, leaving them exposed to virus attacks. Through the provision of a common, high-quality anti-virus software package, at no cost to the schools, the Government is protecting the investment schools are making. David Benson-Pope: How does this initiative fit within the Government's wider strategy for promoting the use of information and communication technology in schools? Hon TREVOR MALLARD: As Maurice Williamson often tells me, ensuring our children develop good information and communication technology skills is as essential part of equipping them for life and work in the 21st century. I am looking forward to Maurice Williamson getting back on that front bench. Nandor Tanczos: Is the Minister aware that most viruses are designed to attack the hegemonic proprietary software platform Microsoft, while non-proprietary operating platforms, such as SuSE Linux, now meet international security certification, and how will he protect the ability of schools to choose open-source alternatives? Hon TREVOR MALLARD: Quite a few schools use open-source software; that is their right, and if they want to do that, that is fine. I am not aware of the technical details, but my understanding is that a lot of the software will support Linux as well as Microsoft." --Warren. On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 14:33:23 +1300, Jason Greenwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Even though I do not agree with most of his views and lifestyle choice, > Tim Barnett MP is VERY receptive to new ideas. I have met with him a few > times...he knows who I am so name drop when you go see him. I have > 'softened him up' on the Open Source thing already for you. =) > > Cheers > > Jason Greenwood > > Ian Laurenson wrote: > > On Tue, 2005-02-22 at 12:24, Christopher Sawtell wrote: > > > >>On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 11:56, Carl Cerecke wrote: > >> > >>>Ian Laurenson wrote: > >>> > >>>>I would really like to hear: > >>>>* What barriers you see that are preventing a greater uptake of OOo. > >>> > >>>The Ministry of Education spending millions of *our* money to give > >>>schools MS Word for free. If schools had to pay for MS Word, they would > >>>be fleeing to OOo in droves. > >> > >>>>* Anything else you think I should know or do. > >> > >>Ask the Minister of Education why he blew that $30 million of our money on > >>m/s > >>licences, and make sure the rest of NZ hears you ask the question. I suspect > >>you will get some evasive answer to the effect that T. Mallard Esq. (sic) is > >>no longer in charge of schools. > >> > >>For school use Solaris and OOo would be a far better and cheaper option. I > >>suspect that Sun might equip a small country's schools for free, The > >>publicity would be worth umpteen million to them. > >> > > > > I am working on getting such questions asked in the house. At the moment > > I am pursuing this through my contacts with the Green Party. Does anyone > > have other contacts, other suggestions (letters to the editor perhaps?), > > to get this question being asked more pervasively? > > > > Thanks, Ian > > > > > > > > >
