Page 3928 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006

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(3) See answer to Question 2 above.

Information technology—open source pilot program
(Question No 1275)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Business and Economic Development, upon notice, on 21 September 2006:

(1) In relation to Action 23 in the Economic White Paper, has the Open Source pilot program been established in the ACT;

(2) If so, what have been the benefits;

(3) if not, why not.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) Yes.

(2) Proof of concept work using various OSS products, including operating systems, application server platforms, database software, reporting software, and desktop software, have demonstrated the potential for use of a range of OSS products by ACT Government agencies.

Instances of OSS are now in production within ACT Government for particular applications; for example the primary website content management and hosting platform for ACT Government websites is an OSS product, which also utilises OSS operating system and database software. As a result, annual license costs are estimated to be around $500,000 lower, as compared with using a proprietary product with similar functionality.

There are also benefits to local industry, with ACT-based ICT firms providing some consultancy and ongoing technical support services.

(3) See above.

Biotechnology
(Question No 1276)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Business and Economic Development, upon notice, on 21 September 2006:

(1) In relation to Action 24 in the Economic White Paper, what action has been undertaken to develop biotechnology industry relationships with NSW, Queensland and Victoria;

(2) If this action has been initiated, what have been the benefits; if not, why not;

(3) What other initiatives have been undertaken in relation to the biotechnology industry in the ACT.

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