[plug] [Fwd: Re: [Linux-aus] OSWA closing]

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Good news everyone.  It comes as a suppository =).

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http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=30&ContentID=8511

State says software centre to stay open
3rd October 2006, 8:00 WST

The Department of Industry and Resources has renewed its commitment to
a key open-source software centre amid State Opposition claims that
the axe could be about to fall on the industry development project.


DOIR said it planned to expand its investment in open-source software
and is on the verge of securing a deal with a major educational
institution which would see the OpenSource WA Demonstration Centre
relocated from Technology Park.

The deputy director-general of science, technology and innovation,
Stephen Grocott, said DOIR was in advanced negotiations with several
potential partners over the terms of an agreement which would deliver
a funding boost and upgraded premises to OpenSource WA.

"It's a relocation, not a closure ? it will be moving out of Bentley
into newer and larger premises," Mr Grocott said.

"We'll still support it with significantly increased funding, but that
was always part of the business model."

Open-source software programs are not controlled by a single company
and their freely available underlying source codes enable anyone to
use, modify and redistribute them. The best known is the Linux
operating system, which can be downloaded free from the internet.

The OpenSource WA Demonstration Centre allows businesses, educational
institutions and software developers to see how the software works and
helps them explore opportunities for its use and development.

Opposition spokesman for information and communications technology
Tony Simpson said OpenSource WA was vital to the State's technology
sector and that the Government should continue to fund open-source
software development directly.

Mr Simpson said the technology sector had been beset by industry talk
about OpenSource WA's imminent closure as it hunted for an educational
institution to take over.

Mr Grocott denied there was any threat to funding and said the
Government recognised that greater investment in open-source software
was needed for WA to stay competitive in a market of increasing
importance to both business and consumers.

"Open source has gone from being esoteric to mainstream, so lots of
people are interested in it, both from the point of view of costs and
industry development, and we're just pushing on to the next level," he
said.

"We've been showcasing opensource technology to attract investors and
we're now in negotiations with a number of major educational
institutions.

"The deal will increase the centre's demonstrator capacity and make it
easier to showcase open-source technology to interested parties, while
freeing up space at Bentley for other emerging technologies."

Mr Grocott said the deal would be finalised by the end of the year,
along with the centre's relocation from Bentley.

Since it opened two years ago, the OpenSource WA Demonstration Centre
has also conducted trials and testing on open-source software.


Martin Philip
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