NSW fast lanes open source
NSW fast lanes open source
The NSW Government is rolling out one of its biggest open source projects on behalf of the Roads and Traffic Authority in order to reduce costs in the long term.
The $1.5 million project between the RTA and Sun Microsystems will see open source software deployed across 1,500 desktops within the authority.
Minister for Commerce, Della Bosca, who is also responsible for ICT policy in New South Wales, said. "The initial implementation will be to 1500 Motor Registry staff. The RTA expects savings of up to $2 million per year when this technology is extended to connect half of the RTA's 7000 desktops over the next few years.
"The move by the RTA to open source software represents a significant achievement in support of the State Government's commitment to Open Standards."
This move follows the launch of an Open source national body earlier this year, The Open Source Industry Australia, that aims to educate the corporate, government and education and education sectors on how to take better advantage of free open source software.
The RTA identified the need for email and desktop computing facilities following the implementation of its integrated management system for HR, Payroll, Financials and Employee Self Service in March 2002.
The open source software will be implemented in two phases. The first will involve the setting up of the Star Office Desktop Suite, which his similar to Word and Excel. The second phase will involve the implementation of Sun JAVA System Messaging for email.
The staff will have access to Mozilla, an open source browser and Mozilla Client for accessing emails.
Bosca added that the RTA has been using and developing open source products for years. "The RTA are already using Apache Web server for publishing, registration and licensing information for motor registry staff. To meet current and future needs for desktop computing facilities the RTA has continued to explore alternative open standards-based software and systems.
"The RTA expects that the success of this technology in the motor registries will be the first step to connecting an estimated half of the 7,000 desktops in the next few years."
This announcement strengthens the commitment of Australian governments towards implementing open source software. The New South Wales and Victorian governments have policy units in place set up for investigating the use of open source platforms in the public sector. A Bill before the South Australian parliament proposes, "...wherever practicable, a public authority should use open source software in preference to proprietary software."
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