In 2005, it looked like a breakthrough was nigh; the ATO actually released a link to a Linux client for use with its electronic commerce interface. I thought this would be the first small step on the road to catering for all computer-using taxpayers the following year.

Alas, that was not to be. The link to this client was taken down a few days later and that's the last I've heard of the ATO and Linux being spoken of in the same breath.

Last year, I wasn't around to ask this question at tax time. This year, what greets me at the ATO's website is this information: To lodge tax returns online, one needs a PC running Windows 2000 or XP. And the ATO advises further, "...because Windows uses security components of Internet Explorer, use any version of Internet Explorer 6."

Whenever I hear of security and Internet Explorer mentioned in the same sentence, I can't help but snigger. Even since the browser was integrated deep into the bowels of the operating system back in 1998, it has been a magnet for remote code execution.

But then the use of Internet Explorer is standard fare in Australian government offices. And the powers-that-be are so enamoured of the software that comes out of Redmond that if you even want to register a new political party, one of the requirements is that you provide a "A Microsoft compatible electronic membership list (and paper copy) providing the following information for each member:..."

It is worthwhile noting that the only government electronic voting exercise carried out in Australia - in the Australian Capital Territory some years back - was done using Debian GNU/Linux-based systems. But this was an exercise by the government of the ACT, not the federal government.

One would think that governments of all shapes and sizes would look at open standards to encourage people to come into the 21st century and use the power of technology and the internet to actually reduce the repetitious tasks one does and take the pain out of a number of must-do activities.

One year I installed the tax software using Crossover Office, a layer that sits on a Linux system and allows the running of some Windows binaries. Apart from the occasional .dll error, it ran fine.

But then this is tax data - one cannot experiment with it. The tax software is a closed application - if the source were open I would have tried to rally some developers to port it to Linux.

The tax software takes an enormous burden out of the exercise of filing returns; it's easy to use, reduces labour at the other end and turanround is fast - returns come through in nine or 10 days. But that's only for Windows users.

The remainder of the masses who have access to computers will have to start buying ballpoint pens.

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