[Opensource] Open Letter to the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

[Donna Benjamin]

Open Letter to Deputy Prime Minister calling for consideration of Free
and Open Source Software in implementation of the Digital Education
Revolution Policy for the National Secondary School Computer Fund.

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The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP 
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Education 

Dear Deputy Prime Minister Gillard, 

As leaders in the ICT industry we're excited by the government's
commitment toward making a revolutionary improvement in Australia’s
education and training to world-leading standards. We're ready to "join
the barricades" to assist in the interests of raising Australia's ICT
capabilities in the global economy. 

We urge you to consider the cost-saving implications of advocating the
use of free and open source software in schools to further the aims of
the digital education revolution and maximise the impact of this
critical investment in the future. 

Over the past two years we have seen a dramatic drop in price for basic
computing hardware. Free and open source software represents a real
opportunity for further cost savings, which would allow schools to use
the $1000 per unit investment more flexibly and effectively. 

Schools (and associated education authorities) concerned about the
additional cost of ancillary services and infrastructure associated with
the delivery of the National Secondary School Computer Fund should be
encouraged to explore open source software. 

Research consistently shows the total cost of ownership of free and open
source software is equivalent, or lower, than for conventional
proprietary applications. [*] 

The time is right for schools to seriously adopt free and open source
software and for the federal government to encourage a greater
proportion of the $1000 to be made available for effective use of ICT
and improved learning outcomes. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Open Source Industry Australia or
Linux Australia if you require more information about the use of free
and open source software in Australia's education sector. 

Yours faithfully,

  Donna Benjamin - Education Spokesperson, Open Source Victoria.
  Brendan Scott - Chairman, Open Source Industry Australia Limited.
  Stewart Smith - President, Linux Australia.
  Pia Waugh - Director, OLPC Australia.
  Andrew Chalmers - President, Linux Users of Victoria.
  Sridhar Dhanapalan - President, Sydney Linux User Group.
  Max McLaren - General Manager, Red Hat Australia.
  Karen Koomen - Government Affairs, IBM Australia.
  Rusty Russell - Linux Kernel Developer.
  Dr Andrew Tridgell - Samba Developer.

* For references see http://www.linux.org.au/education/tco

-- 
Donna Benjamin
Convenor - Open Education http://openeducation.org.au/drupal
Executive Director - Creative Contingencies http://cc.com.au

"Open Source is arguably the most significant movement in the software
world of the past decade. Its impact is both pervasive and disruptive,
and the importance of Open Source solutions to government and business
organisations of all sizes continues to grow."
                     Prof. Bob Williamson, Scientific Director, NICTA