Re: Grant Application from Fraser Tweedale for Support the myGov Code Generator source code FOI review

Paul Wayper via linux-aus <[email protected]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:26:54 +1000
Newsgroups gmane.linux.australia
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On 18/7/26 15:40, Marcus Herstik via linux-aus wrote:
> Support can come in many ways - not just financial.
> This leads to the obvious question - why don't we start litigating these 
> kind of things as an organisation ?

I'm finding this position puzzling, Marcus, in relation to your comment:


> I'm sorry but that's a no from me.
> We are not here to fund litigation.
> While we may receive the benefit of the result of that litigation it was not 
> started by us nor is LA a party to this.

The problem I see with any idea that Linux Australia would 'start litigating 
these kinds of [legal battles]' is in choosing what, and how, and in getting 
legal advice.  We'd have to get community feedback on which issues LA chose to 
tackle, and then maybe ask the community again when things got stymied (as 
they inevitably do when fighting legal battles with large government 
departments). And then the LA council would have to put their names to court 
filings and proceedings.  Linux Australia retains no lawyers.

It's much better, IMO, for individual members to do what Fraser has done here 
(take on the fight because of a personal commitment) and then ask for Linux 
Australia's assistance.  Fraser has openly asked for community funding for his 
legal proceedings as well, so this is not just a matter that Linux Australia 
is being asked to assist alone.

I am fully in support of Linux Australia giving financial assistance to 
Fraser's work to ask for the source code of software made by a government 
department for deployment on Australian citizens' phones to be made publicly 
available.

The government makes many things available under Creative Commons licenses 
(thanks to Pia Andrews for pushing for this!).

Hope this helps,

Paul

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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 18/7/26 15:40, Marcus Herstik via
      linux-aus wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:SY2PPFC0D96257C114DADE4086D2F9AE504D4C52-5nhX6D4hzY38XcgoxujXPF9cZbGSbJIr/[email protected]">
      <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
        Support can come in many ways - not just financial. </div>
      <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
        This leads to the obvious question - why don't we start
        litigating these kind of things as an organisation ?</div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>I'm finding this position puzzling, Marcus, in relation to your
      comment:</p>
    <p><br>
    </p>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:SY2PPFC0D96257C114DADE4086D2F9AE504D4C52-5nhX6D4hzY38XcgoxujXPF9cZbGSbJIr/[email protected]">
      <div id="ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line"
        data-applydefaultfontstyles="true"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"
        dir="ltr">
        <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
          <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            I'm sorry but that's a no from me. </div>
          <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            We are not here to fund litigation. </div>
          <div dir="ltr"
style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            While we may receive the benefit of the result of that
            litigation it was not started by us nor is LA a party to
            this. </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>The problem I see with any idea that Linux Australia would 'start
      litigating these kinds of [legal battles]' is in choosing what,
      and how, and in getting legal advice.  We'd have to get community
      feedback on which issues LA chose to tackle, and then maybe ask
      the community again when things got stymied (as they inevitably do
      when fighting legal battles with large government departments). 
      And then the LA council would have to put their names to court
      filings and proceedings.  Linux Australia retains no lawyers.</p>
    <p>It's much better, IMO, for individual members to do what Fraser
      has done here (take on the fight because of a personal commitment)
      and then ask for Linux Australia's assistance.  Fraser has openly
      asked for community funding for his legal proceedings as well, so
      this is not just a matter that Linux Australia is being asked to
      assist alone.</p>
    <p>I am fully in support of Linux Australia giving financial
      assistance to Fraser's work to ask for the source code of software
      made by a government department for deployment on Australian
      citizens' phones to be made publicly available.</p>
    <p>The government makes many things available under Creative Commons
      licenses (thanks to Pia Andrews for pushing for this!).</p>
    <p>Hope this helps,</p>
    <p>Paul</p>
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