Differences between version 27 and predecessor to the previous major change of ParliamentaryQuestions.
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| Newer page: | version 27 | Last edited on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 12:52:44 am | by MattBrown | Revert |
| Older page: | version 25 | Last edited on Monday, April 4, 2005 4:18:40 pm | by PerryLorier | Revert |
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+!!Parliamentary Questions
On Thursday the 18th of November, the [WLUG] was privileged to have RodneyHide, the leader of NewZealand's [ACT] political party, address us. See the [MeetingTopics.2004-11-18] page for an outline of this enjoyable meeting.
Rodney is interested in open source software and told us about the powers of an opposition MP to ask questions of government departments regarding their use. He has offered to submit ParliamentaryQuestions on our behalf, which are written questions that must be answered within five working days. Rodney will endeavor to assist us in formulating these in the most effective manner.
-Please note that the WLUG are not affilliated
with any political party (and don't even have a leaning). This is not a "Government bashing" or "Microsoft bashing" exercise; this is a method to further the goals of the WlugCharter in advocating [Linux] and OpenSource software.
+Please note that the WLUG are not affiliated
with any political party (and don't even have a leaning). This is not a "Government bashing" or "Microsoft bashing" exercise; this is a method to further the goals of the WlugCharter in advocating [Linux] and OpenSource software.
Also, anyone can edit this page - if you're going to discuss this project, doing so on this page ensures that everything you say can be taken on board and included in the process.
-Notes on
the process
:
+!!Rules for questions
+There are specific rules relating to
the content of questions, see [http
://www.act.org.nz/action/questions/] for details.
-*
Questions should be as
specific as possible
, especially with respect
to dates. This makes evading
the questions difficult.
-* The original answer documents can be requested if there
is a suspicion
that the provided answer may be male bovine fecal matter.
-
-With
that in mind:
+Questions must also contain
specific information
, _before_ adding a question
to this page please ensure it contains
the following information
+* Name of Minister question
is directed too, AND
+* The specific portfolio held by
that Minister, Note: ensure that your question is actually relevant to this portfolio
+* Specific details (including dates if possible) of
the question you wish to ask
+* References to support any assertions
that you make.
-----
+!! Questions
-RodneyHide asked us what questions we'd like various government departments asked
. This page is where we can discuss questions
and talk about rewording them before their submission. Each question is made into a title so that the discussion about that question can happen underneath.
+! Research Funding for Open Source Software
+Question Directed To: Hon
. Steve Maharey%%%
+Portfolio: Research Science
and Technology
-!How much money has ''this department'' spent
in the last financial
year on commercial proprietary software products?
-Does this relate to maintaining/maintenance charges
, or to purchase
of new products? Suggest modifying
to 'How much money has ''this department'' spent in
the last financial year purchasing new commercial proprietary software products for which a viable open source alternative exists
.'' - PaulL
+Out of all research and partnership grants funded by the Foundation for Research Science and Technology
in the finiancial
year ending 31 March 2005
, what proportion
of these grants were given
to companies or individuals developing Open Source Software (as defined by
the Open Source Institute http://www
.opensource.org/docs/definition.php) and does the Foundation have polices intended to encourage the development of Open Source Software which will benefit all New Zealanders?
-This has the door open that they can claim out that an open source alternative isn't viable
. if you want an answer, you have to make sure that they can't redefine terms on you
:) -- PerryLorier
+! Consideration of Open Source Software in Government Software Procurement
+Question Directed To: Hon
. Trevor Mallard%%%
+Portfolio
: State Services
-Also suggest specifying particular categories
of open
source software - lets not get into the argument about products like eAI tools that do not have a good and well accepted
open source alternative
. So perhaps 'How much money has ''this department'' spent
in the last financial year purchasing new proprietary web servers where Apache web server offered a viable alternative
.' etc etc. Perhaps also focus on
the dollar figures spent
on operating systems (we can safely include maintenance here, as we are making
the point that if they moved to open source they wouldn't have this
cost)
, and on desktop and productivity software in an environment such as a front-office application
, where obscure toolsets aren't typically required - a front-office app usually requires only Office apps
, browser, 3270 emulation
and e-mail - PaulL
+In 2003 the E-government group
of the State Services Commission produced a report entitled "Open
source software: briefing to the Minister of State Services" (http://www.e
-government.govt.nz/docs/
open-
source-200303/index
.html) detailing success overseas and
in New Zealand with Open Source Software deployments
. The report recommended that State Service Departments consider
the use of Open Source Software
on the basis of
cost, functionality
, interoperability
, and security;
-!How many machines within ''
this department'' are running Linux or other OpenSource operating systems in production as
of ''today''?
+As a result of
this policy, how many State Service Departments initiated Open Source Software deployments and does the State Services Commission have any plans to reevaluate the possible benefits
of this policy.
-!How many internal applications within ''this department'' are currently written in a way that are not immediately portable to other operating systems?
-
-This question sounds a little vague... maybe 'internal applications' should be better defined -- JohnMcPherson
-
-Suggest making it more specific by tying to a date (removing the argument that open source wasn't seen broadly as viable before a particular date), and by specifying custom developed applications rather than just 'internal applications.' Suggest rewording to 'How many custom developed applications for which development commenced after 1 Jan 2000 that are currently in use or under development within ''this department'' or by organisations contracted by ''this department'' are currently written in a way that is not immediately portable to other operating systems.' - PaulL
-
-
-!How much money has ''this department'' spent in the last financial year on protecting against and recovering from worm and virus infections?
-
-!How much downtime has ''this department'' experienced in person hours that was due to a loss
of service caused by worms and viruses?
-
-!Why does ''this department'' consider it safe to publish .doc files on its public website?
-This question needs to be targetted only at the departments that do the above :)
-References:
-* http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/23.27.html#subj6
-* http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/23.50.html#subj7
-
-Perhaps amusing facts can be found
in these [doc files|http://www.google.co.nz/search?as_q=&num=100&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=doc&as_qdr=all&as_occt=url&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=govt.nz&safe=off]
-revision histories which can be rephrased in form of a question.
-
-(zcat notes
: searching for files of type "doc" with no search string works better than looking for the string "
.doc" and then excluding the department of conservation.. :-)
-
-!Why does ''this department'' not have versions of its files available for download in a more open format such as pdf or html?
-(Paired with the above question where appropriate)
-
-Given the availability of openoffice, is the format of the document really an open source issue? I would suggest focusing on the high value questions where clear dollar figures can be pointed to - PaulL
-
-Yes it is important. OpenOffice isn't 100
% at reading files. Posting doc files on the web is considered bad practice, even by microsoft. Also, there are devices which are unlikely to ever run any office software, eg, a cellphone. Having the document available in html means anyone can read it anywhere on anything. If it's a document that needs to be printed (a form perhaps to be mailed back if an online version of the form isn't feasible for some reason eg, requires signatures) then PDF is obviously the right answer (it always prints as intended where office documents won't print reliably the same between different versions of word). -- PerryLorier
-
-!How much of the last round of ''funding body ([FRST]/[TBG])'' projects gone towards development of Open Source Software as defined by http
://www.opensource.org/?
-
-!When awarding contracts for software application development, would ''the department'' consider favouring Open Sourced solutions as being in the best interests of NewZealand citizens? If not, why not?
-
-!Why does [FRST] not consider the production of Open Source software to be a valid objective for funding especially in the light of high quality software like MozillaFirefox being produced in New Zealand?
-
-!Where new applications are developed within ''this department'' using components of open source software, does ''this department'' have a policy of contributing to the improvement and support of that open source software, and allow their staff to devote time to that purpose?
-
-!Are there any plans for the New Zealand Government to have a policy which prefers Open Source Software as many other governments are doing?
-
-!How many patents have been issued that would be considered "software patents"?
-
-!!Of those patents, how many have been issued to NZ companies and how many have been issued to overseas companies?
-
-!!How many times have software patents been enforced against New Zealand Companies?
-This question perhaps in unanswerable, perhaps 'how many have been taken to court over software patent infringement in New Zealand?"
+! Publication
of Information
in Proprietary File Formats
+Question Directed To
: Hon
. Trevor Mallard%%
%
+Portfolio
: Education
+Microsoft Word is a popular text editing and document presentation application commonly used by many Government departments. Word documents are stored in the commonly known .doc format. Microsoft describes Word documents as an "Internal File Format" which is not safe for distribution outside of a company as it contains:
+* Revision history which may include previous changes not intended to be releasd
+* Executable code that supports the propogation of Viruses and other Malware
+Given these problems why does the Ministry of Education continue to threaten the safety of users of it's website and render itself liable to embarassing leaks of confidential information by providing documents in .doc format on it's website when they documents are already available in open file formats such as PDF.
+-----
!!Other things we need to phrase into questions:
* Microsoft in Schools
* ComCom & [ADSL] in New Zealand?
* Māori language translations/interfaces (eg gnome 2.6 and kde have some 'mi' locale support). Educational software that has a US focus rather than NZ? (video/audio accents, history (think 'Oregon Trail', etc)
----
-Something I think needs dicussing
is the idea of Government (Tax Payer) funds being used by IT Contractors to develop custom appliations
that are licensed under a proprietory license
. I think
all "new code" developed from Governmental organisations should be licensed under an Open Source license. We as tax payers paid for
the software, we should own the software.
-
-Agree with
this one - generally
the larger govt
departments require that IP in any applications developed vests in the govt, it is worth a bash to convince them
this should
in turn be put in the public domain
. A point of consideration is that many IT organisations would embed pre-existing proprietary code in the developed application, and generally give the Govt body a license
to use these components and sell the application in its entirity. To make the software available as open source would make the individual components accessable - which might not be viable from
a commercial perspective
.
+! Notes
+* Removed Patent questions as this issue
is currently in review by Select Committee? after
the consulation period ended 11 March 2005, The written question rules state that questions must not address issues
that are currently being discussed in committee
.
+* Remove
all the general questions regarding why does department X not do
this as
the sample of
departments I looked at while tidying
this page were not
in error
. If you have _specific_ examples feel free
to add
a question
.
