Gates, Howard launch Microsoft charity

By Stuart Finlayson

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Prime Minister John Howard were in Sydney today to launch the Australian arm of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential charitable initiative, which sets out to help communities across the country have access to technology, irrespective of their circumstances.

The software giant, which is partnering with five Australian community organisations to deliver the program, is to donate $40 million over the next five years.

Prime Minister Howard praised Gates for his benevolence, not just in Australia but also elsewhere in the world, describing him as "an exemplar to the capitalists of the world in that having received the fruits of a free market system, we all have an obligation to return some of that benefit to the less fortunate in the world and the less fortunate within our own communities."

Howard added that "partnerships between the business sector, the community and government are the best way to develop solutions to improve people's daily lives," but did not divulge what contribution, if any, the government would be making to the initiative.

The immediate upshot of the announcement is that 77 centres across Australia, helping a range of citizens - from economically disadvantaged families to the elderly, at risk youths, indigenous communities, and the educationally disadvantaged sectors of the community – to gain access to learning through technology. More than 100 centres are expected to be established in Australia by 2005.

Related Article:

Microsoft opens its NAS Windows