Australia’s independent Open Source industry body, Open Source Industry Australia Limited (OSIA), has welcomed news that all the major political parties contesting the forthcoming federal election are strong supporters of Open Source software.

Responding to survey results prepared recently by OSIA, the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal-National Coalition, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens have all voiced strong support for the adoption of free and open source software for both boosting local ICT development and ensuring open and interoperable standards.

According to OSIA the Liberal-National Coalition is committed to working closely with the Open Source industry into the future to ensure that all the issues (raised in the survey) are appropriately addressed.

While The Australian Democrats said it would open out the software industry so that all companies can bid for government contracts. The Democrats would also support an Australian IT infrastructure that includes free and open source software when available and appropriate.

In the research undertaken by OSIA directors Brendan Scott and Damian Hickey, the Australian Labor Party stated it would support the lowering of barriers to entry in the market for software within Australia, along with the recognition and use of open and competitive data formats for the exchange of information between Government Agencies and citizens and businesses.

While the Australian Greens will encourage government use of open-source software, and require the use of open and publicly documented file formats.

OSIA welcomes these positive stances said fellow OSIA director Arjen Lentz.

"Open source software in government procurement and is an
essential building block for Australia's future ICT industry,” he said.