It does sound pro-Microsoft, but I'm not sure about the anti-linux bit!
Sadly, although pro-Microsoft, it does raise some very true points about the sorry state of IT in Australia.
I'm an Aussie currently contracting in London, one for the money, which is very good due to the exchange rate, but mainly so I can travel around and see Europe. In a couple of years when I get back to Melbourne, I plan to start up a small software company... in some countries - the US, Ireland, Malaysia etc. this is encouraged... in Australia it is a very frightening task.
The Australian government does a lot to promote big overseas companies investing in Australia, but very little to promote small IT/Technology based businesses. There is virtually nothing in the way of a venture capital market, so Government R&D grants are very important for simulating local growth... pity the Government doesn't realise this.
I think Microsoft is very right (as much as that pains me:) in highlighting these points. A couple of years ago, to secure the passage of a couple of important bills through the senate, the Government had to negotiate with the ultra-conservative independent Tasmanian Senator Harridine who held the balance of power. He was very concerned about the level of pornography accessible on the internet. Fair enough... but, he and the Government agreed to pass a series of bills aiming at making the ISPs and owners of the Teleco infrastructure (ie Telstra) LEGALLY RESPONSBILE FOR material illegally downloaded. At one stage they (the Government) were talking about requiring blocking of illegal web sites AT THE ROUTER LEVEL! Only after numerous protests from Teleco companies and an in depth report by the CSIRO outlining the impracticality of the proposed nationwide filtering schemes that they softened their stance.
The Communications Minister back then is the same Communications Minister now, Senator Alston. Pretty worrying. The sooner the Australian government gets some people with foresight and vision for promoting Australia as a technological leader, built upon the talents of it's local companies, small and large, instead of relying on investment from big multinationals, the sooner I, and many other Aussies working abroad, will be home.
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It does sound pro-Microsoft, but I'm not sure about the anti-linux bit! Sadly, although pro-Microsoft, it does raise some very true points about the sorry state of IT in Australia. I'm an Aussie currently contracting in London, one for the money, which is very good due to the exchange rate, but mainly so I can travel around and see Europe. In a couple of years when I get back to Melbourne, I plan to start up a small software company ... in some countries - the US, Ireland, Malaysia etc. this is encouraged... in Australia it is a very frightening task.
The Australian government does a lot to promote big overseas companies investing in Australia, but very little to promote small IT/Technology based businesses. There is virtually nothing in the way of a venture capital market, so Government R&D grants are very important for simulating local growth... pity the Government doesn't realise this.
I think Microsoft is very right (as much as that pains me :) in highlighting these points. A couple of years ago, to secure the passage of a couple of important bills through the senate, the Government had to negotiate with the ultra-conservative independent Tasmanian Senator Harridine who held the balance of power. He was very concerned about the level of pornography accessible on the internet. Fair enough... but, he and the Government agreed to pass a series of bills aiming at making the ISPs and owners of the Teleco infrastructure (ie Telstra) LEGALLY RESPONSBILE FOR material illegally downloaded. At one stage they (the Government) were talking about requiring blocking of illegal web sites AT THE ROUTER LEVEL! Only after numerous protests from Teleco companies and an in depth report by the CSIRO outlining the impracticality of the proposed nationwide filtering schemes that they softened their stance.
The Communications Minister back then is the same Communications Minister now, Senator Alston. Pretty worrying. The sooner the Australian government gets some people with foresight and vision for promoting Australia as a technological leader, built upon the talents of it's local companies, small and large, instead of relying on investment from big multinationals, the sooner I, and many other Aussies working abroad, will be home.