[Osia-members] OSIA December update

[Jack Burton]

Afternoon, all.

It's been another busy month at OSIA, and there's no sign of the pace
letting up any time soon.

Margaret Thatcher once said "If someone is confronting our essential
liberties, then, by God, I will confront them.".

That sentiment was very much front of mind last week, as the board
considered the impact of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the
Australian OSS sector.

Whilst TPP is the most obvious threat to the industry at present, there
are also many other risks to be mitigated and opportunities to be
pursued for the benefit of the OSS sector in the field of public policy
today.

Never before have we worked simultaneously on responding to so many key
issues. It is indeed an exciting, albeit sometimes challenging, time
for OSIA. I hope you will all bear with us, as we step once more unto
the breach -- perhaps not as quickly as we might have desired, but as
resolutely, nevertheless.

** Trans Pacific Partnership **

The board convened a workshop in Sydney in late November to progress
OSIA's response to TPP. Further work is underway and we expect to
commence publishing within the next month.

The TPP Committee needs your help. Any OSIA members with a keen
interest in saving Australia from TPP and the time & capacity to help
us achieve that end are urged to volunteer to join the TPP Committee --
to do so, please contact me off-list.

** Submission to the Productivity Commission **

On 30 Nov, OSIA lodged an initial submission to the Productivity
Commission's Inquiry into Intellectual Property Arrangements. Copies of
the submission can be obtained here:
http://www.osia.com.au/drupal7/sites/default/files/default/productivitycommisionreport.pdf
or here:
http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/194466/sub021-intellectual-property.pdf

The board thanks OSIA Director, Public Policy (Domestic) Aimee Maree
Forsstrom for leading the effort on this matter.

It is our intention to lodge a further submission after the
Commission's draft report is released in March/April next year.

** Submission to the Australian Taxation Office **

OSIA is in the process of drafting a response to the ATO's Digital by
Default consultation paper.

Any members interested in contributing to the response are invited to
contact OSIA Director Paul Foxworthy <paul.foxworthy at osia.com.au>
off-list.

** Department of Finance paper on shared services **

The board is currently considering whether or not to lodge a response to
the Commonwealth Department of Finance's discussion paper on
"standardising, consolidating and automating back-office services" --
see here:
http://www.themandarin.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/DiscussionPaper_Shared-and-Common-Services_December-2015.pdf

Members with strong views either way are invited to air them on this
list or to contact any OSIA director off-list before close of business
this Friday (11 Dec).

** Casual vacancy on 2015/16 board **

At its November meeting, the board deferred until its December meeting
the question of whether or not (and if so with whom) to fill the casual
vacancy for the 2015/16 term.

Once again, any member who has the time, capability and desire to serve
on the 2015/16 board is welcome to contact me off-list to express his
or her interest in the role (no later than close of business this
Friday please), which will be taken into consideration if the board
decides to fill the casual vacancy.

** Member referral service **

I'm pleased to report that significant progress has been made on the
much awaited member referral service. We expect to be able to launch a
limited beta trial before Christmas.

So keep an eye out over the next week or two for the upcoming
announcement on this list from OSIA Director (Member Services) Paul
Foxworthy.

** Board meetings **

The board met in Sydney on 26 Nov and will next meet by teleconference
this Saturday (12 Dec).

As always, members are encouraged to bring any pertinent matters (and
indeed your views on them) to the attention of the Board, either on
this list or by contacting any of us directly.

Regards,


Jack Burton
<jack at saosce.com.au>