VIC: Bug could hit more than just offices: minister

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-1998
VIC: Bug could hit more than just offices: minister

MELBOURNE, Dec 31 AAP - Air-conditioning, building security and farm irrigation - not just
office computers - could be hit by the millennium bug, Victorian Industry Minister Mark
Birrell warned today.

Only four months were left to start countering the problem, Mr Birrell said as he launched
an awareness campaign.

"Certainly, there will be a shortage of advice and there will be a shortage of time if they
leave it to mid-year or later," he told reporters.

It was not only computers that needed attention.

Air-conditioning systems, security systems, lifts and farming irrigation systems could all
be operated by an encoded computer chip and affected.

"The real problem is people think they don't have a computer, (but) then a farmer finds out
his irrigation system works on date-based spraying from an encoded chip," Mr Birrell said.

"Or someone finds out they can't even get into their office because their security system
is date-based."

For some businesses the problem could be easily fixed at little cost but for others it
would take longer and incur "a significant cost".

The costs would be fully tax deductible if incurred before December 31, 1999.

Mr Birrell said more than 90 per cent of businesses were aware of the problem but 30 per
cent had not taken any action.

"The fact that many small and medium-sized businesses have not even started Year 2000
compliancy works, nor do some intend to, is alarming," he said.

The millennium bug, also known as Y2K (computer jargon for year 2000) refers to the
possible malfunction or shutdown of computers with two-digit year-counters that fail to
distinguish between 1900 and 2000 because both have double zeros.

The campaign urging Victorians to act includes signs on taxis, outdoor billboards and an
information booklet.

The government has set up an information hotline during business hours: 1800 11 2000.

AAP lmw/er/jnb

KEYWORD: Y2K VIC

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