The Liberal and National parties put aside their differences on energy and competition policy this week to rekindle a union that has existed, in one form or another, for more than 80 years.
But it made no difference to Sussan Ley’s pick for shadow industry and innovation minister, with NSW Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke Opposition leader parachuted into the role Ms Ley is all too familiar with.
The most surprising change, however, was presumptive new MP Gisele Kapterian, who is set to take the reins as shadow assistant minister for technology and the digital economy, granted she wins her seat.
The seat of Bradfield in Sydney’s north – which the former Salesforce executive is contesting following the departure of Liberal moderate and digital optimist Paul Fletcher – remains on knife-edge after a recount.
Politics was far from the story with the recent batch of federal innovation grants through the Industry Growth Program, a welcome change from colour-coded spreadsheets of times past.
More than $36 million was quietly rolled out to local startups and scaleups, with only one of the grants announced by former Industry minister Ed Husic during the election campaign.
Conflicts of interest were, however, ever-present in one of a series of audits to emerge this week that looked at the Australian Taxation Office’s massive IT outsourcing reset over the past few years.
And in good news, the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation is having a healthy debate over when and how much it should be investing in companies to build new industries.
Catch up on all the week’s developments in this episode of InnovationAus.com’s weekly News Wrap podcast with host James Riley and senior reporter Joseph Brookes.
Surprise industry and tech picks in Ley’s first shadow ministry – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
Govt open the innovation grant tap just before election – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about our research capacity – this is why – The Conversation
Audit reveals ATO tangled conflicts of interest with Accenture – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
Procurement advisers cash in on ATO technology uplift – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
‘Push hard and go early’: NRF investment approach up for debate – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
Startup Muster engages state ambassadors for ‘deep dive’ – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
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