Thomas Beale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Anyone who expects OS to be created as a > principle from the top down rather than the bottom up is probably > dreaming.
Perhaps, but it is important to separate two issues. The first is software package selection and acquisition for use within government. The press article reports that neither of the major Australian political parties plan to introduce affirmative action legislation for FOSS in this respect - so it has to compete on its own merits (including purchase price). The second is software which is created or commissioned by government for its own use. There are very strong arguments that, in the absence of security issues to the contrary, goverenment should by deafult make all such software available as FOSS. Two other speakers at the same Linux Australia conference have a lot to say on this issue - see the papers by Brendan Scott, Brian Fitzgerald and Ian Oi at http://lca2004.linux.org.au/ocgconf/programme.html. Brendan's paper is already available at www.members.optusnet.com.au/brendanscott/papers Tim C
