Australian Tax Office finally gives Open Source some lovin'

[HyRax1]

AUSkey finally gets open source support
By Luke Hopewell, ZDNet.com.au on December 17th, 2010

Starting today, Linux users will be able to take advantage of the government's AUSkey authentication software after months of waiting.

After initially airing plans for Linux support in July, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is now offering preliminary support to open-source users on specific platforms.

"The AUSkey registration, download and installation process has been successfully tested with Ubuntu 10.04 and Firefox 3.6 and may also work with other versions," the ATO said in a release this morning.

The new support will allow open-source users to communicate with the government's Standard Business Reporting (SBR) platform.

The SBR enables businesses and reporting professionals to lodge government forms such as tax returns and business activity statements (BAS) electronically across multiple government departments. Businesses are able to lodge this information using the AUSkey — a single secure sign-on for the SBR program. Previously, AUSkey only had compatibility and support available for Windows and Mac users.

...

Source

Finally the ATO sees the light, though it wouldn't have seen the light of day without the efforts of John Ferlito of Linux Australia. It's a good forward direction and good news for Open Source in general.

[houseofzeus]

Originally Posted by HyRax1

Source

Finally the ATO sees the light, though it wouldn't have seen the light of day without the efforts of John Ferlito of Linux Australia. It's a good forward direction and good news for Open Source in general.

While a good step it's a little disappointing that the program that handles most individual's one interaction with the ATO each year, ETAX, isn't even available on Mac yet let alone Linux.

[Deanodriver]

Originally Posted by houseofzeus

While a good step it's a little disappointing that the program that handles most individual's one interaction with the ATO each year, ETAX, isn't even available on Mac yet let alone Linux.

Agreed totally.

I shouldn't have to buy a copy of Windows (and Parallels) just so I can run eTax.

[elvis]

I'm still at a loss why Australians are expected to pay money to US corporates in order to use an Australian public service platform.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - when it comes to computing platforms in the public sector, Brazil and India are miles ahead of us. They've seen the light and opened their public sector computing up, and in return created many local jobs in the technology sector, and been far more self sufficient when it comes to technology.

[stmok]

Originally Posted by elvis

I'm still at a loss why Australians are expected to pay money to US corporates in order to use an Australian public service platform.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - when it comes to computing platforms in the public sector, Brazil and India are miles ahead of us. They've seen the light and opened their public sector computing up, and in return created many local jobs in the technology sector, and been far more self sufficient when it comes to technology.

Because our leadership are filled with idiots who barely know how to use a computer; let alone have any engineering development experience of critical infrastructure...Its all too easy for well-known technology companies to influence and win contracts by promising the world.

If you've ever been to Hong Kong, their E-Tax system is multi-platform. They don't care if you use Windows, Mac or Linux. As long as you have Java and a compatible web browser (IE, Firefox, or Safari); you're fine.

See here:
=> http://www.gov.hk/en/about/helpdesk/...ineservice.htm

[Hamal]

Originally Posted by elvis

I've said it before and I'll say it again - when it comes to computing platforms in the public sector, Brazil and India are miles ahead of us. They've seen the light and opened their public sector computing up, and in return created many local jobs in the technology sector, and been far more self sufficient when it comes to technology.

Between the FUD and the "grease on the squeaky wheels" there's no hope for some airy-fairy "hippy" communist inspired concept like "Open Source". Face it, Microsoft don't hold onto their position as market leaders because they sell a good product. They hold onto it because they know how to sell.

[elvis]

Originally Posted by Hamal

They hold onto it because they know how to sell.

Microsoft are welcome to sell all they like to the private sector. I really don't think foreign, proprietary software belongs in the Australian public sector.

[Xplora]

As someone who has to deal with the ramifications of such software changes, I wouldn't be blowing the horn too hard. The fact that Apple software doesn't get a lot of ATO love (they get attention, trust me) should demonstrate that things like Etax and AUSkey need to be on a completely different level of security that 99% of computers "in the wild" just aren't ready for. Therefore, the ATO has to make sure their software is secure, regardkess of challenges of the OS. It's not like running some freakin' Java applet and saying OK that's not too bad.

You just can't get this stuff wrong - if people subvert the authentication with communications to the ATO, the scale of identity fraud achieved makes things like credit card skimming look like child's play.

[Goose1981]

Has anyone from OCAU got in touch with the relevant department representatives and made a case for a change? Some very passionate statements being made.

I see a lot of talk (not just here though), interested in how much action occours.

[elvis]

Originally Posted by Xplora

You just can't get this stuff wrong - if people subvert the authentication with communications to the ATO, the scale of identity fraud achieved makes things like credit card skimming look like child's play.

You realise that some of the best security tools in the world are open source or open standard, right?

The technologies behind the ATO's secure transaction systems are all open source/standard. Running it on Windows is neither here nor there in terms of what it's "adding" to the security.

FWIW, I work in the financial sector and deal with secure transaction portals. All of our REALLY secure stuff runs on Linux and UNIX on the server side, and is entirely OS agnostic at the client level.

[Xplora]

And elvis, you'd know that the ATO authentication systems need to run on the least secure, unprofessional, virus/malware/wtf-ridden systems out there. I'm simply saying that the technical challenge presented might be beyond the ATO programmers, and quite frankly, when 90% of desktops for their "target market" - small business people - are going to be PC, I don't blame them for not pushing too hard to get other OS's sorted out.

Bear in mind guys... it's your money they are spending to do this. Linux support should be the last thing you want the Government burning your money on!

[elvis]

Originally Posted by Xplora

and quite frankly, when 90% of desktops for their "target market" - small business people - are going to be PC, I don't blame them for not pushing too hard to get other OS's sorted out.

Bear in mind guys... it's your money they are spending to do this. Linux support should be the last thing you want the Government burning your money on!

Who gives a shit what runs on the desktop? With technologies like Java, HTML5 and other platform-agnostic systems, the OS running on the desktop should be a complete non-issue!

Writing a "windows app" was the first mistake made. It should have been entirely platform independent.

If I can do my internet banking from any OS with a web browser, I should be able to do my tax the same way.

[BeanerSA]

Originally Posted by elvis

If I can do my internet banking from any OS with a web browser, I should be able to do my tax the same way.

And that should be the last word.

[GreenBeret]

Originally Posted by stmok

Because our leadership are filled with idiots who barely know how to use a computer; let alone have any engineering development experience of critical infrastructure.

I remember reading somewhere about the education background of the top politicians. In those countries where rational decisions are made in the technology sector, they tend to have engineering background (IIRC Germany leads the world in this) and engineering education is highly valued socially. In countries like America and Australia, the vast majority of politicians have law or business background, and very few from technology, and engineering students are treated like social lepers.

[chip]

Originally Posted by elvis

If I can do my internet banking from any OS with a web browser, I should be able to do my tax the same way.

They looked at this, and it didn't get very far due to 'privacy and security concerns', according to a senior manager at the ATO I did some work for.

Sperging against foreign things does come across as a tad xenophobic