This has been covered on the LINK e-mail list, and I
am abstracting from that discussion in what follows.
It turns out that the data format is XML, the DTD is
public, and the crypto is an established algorithm.
The Linux community, or any computing community, could
implement the submission software if they chose to.
The ATO expect packages like MYOB to generate the XML
and send it without the user leaving MYOB.
I would consider a letter writing campaign with
some care, as the ATO seem to have chosen a reasonable
stance:
- the protocol is standards-based and is
public.
- they have released a reference implementation
for the platform most used by people when
they calculate their taxes.
- nothing seems to preclude an implementation
on Linux.
I think the only thing that we can reasonably ask
for is the release of the source code of the
reference implementation.
Regards,
Glen
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Glen Turner Network Engineer
(08) 8303 3936 Australian Academic and Research Network
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.aarnet.edu.au/
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