sec: unclassified. Landmark Agreement Signed Between Defence and Microsoft

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 12:26:28 +1000
From: Media Centre <MediaCentre () cbr defence gov au>
Reply-To: mediacentre () defence gov au
To: "'media-centre () smtphub defence gov au'"
    <media-centre () smtphub defence gov au>
Subject: sec: unclassified. Landmark Agreement Signed Between Defence and
    Microsoft

MEDIA  RELEASE

Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Liberal Senator for Tasmania


11 September, 2000
PARLSEC 252/00

LANDMARK AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN DEFENCE AND MICROSOFT

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Eric
Abetz and the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Mr Bill Gates today
marked the signing of a landmark agreement between the Department of
Defence and Microsoft, which will provide Defence with significant
technological and financial benefits.

"Under the agreement, Defence will have access to leading edge
Microsoft technologies consistent with those adopted by all of
Australia's major military allies," Senator Abetz said.

The agreement recognises the close relationship that already exists
between Microsoft and Defence.

"This relationship includes commercial and collaborative planning,
research and development activities, and will enhance Defence's
ongoing quest towards maintaining a distinctive knowledge edge,"
Senator Abetz said.

"The agreement will also enable Defence to develop and leverage its
significant investment in Microsoft technologies towards more
sophisticated business, knowledge management and technical uses. This
will provide long term benefits in the way Defence handles it's IT
business."

Senator Abetz said the agreement also provides Defence with
significant financial benefits by consolidating its purchasing
contracts, reducing administrative costs and maximising the purchasing
power of Defence as a major Australian organisation.

"The agreement is consistent with Defence's aim of obtaining best
value for money by ensuring commercial arrangements specifically
acknowledge Defence's unique operational and business circumstances,"
Senator Abetz said.


ENDS
Media Contact: Andrew Joyce, Tel: (02) 6277 3710 or 0407 100 521.
Department of Defence Contact: Peter Breitkopf, Tel: (02) 6266 5046

Andrew Joyce  -  Media Adviser  -  (02) 62773710    0407 100521    Fax:
(02) 62773742
Email:  andrew.joyce () aph gov au    Web:  www.defence.gov.au

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